At the end of the day, even with the lack of notable Sega classics, games removed from previous collections and the weaker titles chucked in there, there is still a lot of good Sega games and some oddities worth playing at least once. There are hours upon hours of gameplay here, all the RPGs could keep you going until the next time Sega re-releases them. For the price, you’re getting a lot of great Mega Drive games. Hopefully, any future collection will give us games from other points of Sega history (Jet Set Radio Future please).

While a majority of their games are top-down shooters, 10tons also dabble in the puzzle genre (Tennis in the Face, the Sparkle games), and Time Recoils levels are themselves puzzles, with clear paths which you’ll figure out through dying repeatedly (seriously, some of the later levels up the difficulty considerably) and experimenting with both your time based abilities and the extensive selection of weapons on hand. The Time Attack mode that you unlock after completing each level will have you replaying again and again in an attempt to get the perfect, bloodiest run.

It's a tad dumb but it's old-school dumb fun. Jump in with a friend or three and relive the glory days of zombie shooters in a simpler time when battles weren't 'royale' and zombies were hotter than Jessica Alba.

ChromaGun is a decent puzzler that plays off its Portal inspiration yet manages to deliver a unique take on chamber-style gameplay. It stretches the idea of primary colours out nicely and offers many hours of experimental gameplay.

Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles delivers satisfying fights wrapped in a stunning presentation that is sure to delight fans of the series. Whilst the story mode’s connective tissue tying the fights together can be a bit flimsy, it’s a serviceable way of retelling narrative. The arena-style fights will feel very familiar to those experienced in the genre and can be found wanting when it comes to the depth of its mechanics, but anyone with a passing interest in Demon Slayer is going to love every second of this and may even convert a few new fans along the way.

Tricky Towers is a refreshingly modern multiplayer variation to the globally-known puzzler Tetris. Although it may not keep the party going all night due to its light content offering, Tricky Towers’ block-stacking action provides great local multiplayer moments – especially when the whole room reacts raucously to someone’s last-second tower collapse.

The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 is a great point and click adventure game. Over the course of the game you’ll be pulled out of the moment as they reintroduce characters with little context, or mention moments you never saw if you missed the original game. Despite this and some frustrating controls and movement, the game is worth checking out if you don’t already have it on another platform. Genuinely humorous and fun adventure games are far and few between, so if you’re willing to overlook some manageable issues it’s definitely worth a look.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore is a deeply fascinating game. On the one hand, it's mechanically one of the best RPGs I've ever played. On the other, its inability to appropriately handle serious issues, complete lack of character growth, and often downright creepy characterisation makes it a difficult game to recommend to anybody. It's a divisive game, but it's been given a second life on the Switch nonetheless. Whether or not that's a good thing is still up for debate.

There is a lot of love in this collection. It is great to see almost everything from the first twenty years of the franchise on display, from all the great stuff to all the really rubbish stuff. However, it still feels a bit like a work in progress. I have had this game for a few weeks, and the Switch versions only just got patched to match the other versions, and there are still things to tidy up. This is a fun collection, and the jank is part of the charm. It always has been with Mortal Kombat, but there shouldn't be new jank added to it, it's got enough.

Yooka-Laylee has a ton of heart put into it. The team at Playtonic know how to make 90’s platformers and they’ve done it here. The problem is that not everything in those games was great then and they’re not great now. The game’s world is filled with a wonderful and funny cast, it’s just spread a bit thin in huge but empty worlds. The nostalgic soundtrack luckily fills those vast spaces. Yooka-Laylee is a terrific throwback to an era long dead. Let’s just have more of the good parts and keep the bad parts in the past.

The game is very charming, and the world and the villagers are delightful, but to get the most out of My Time at Portia you might need a guide. A lot of the crafting feels like a big puzzle and most of it I was able to figure out on my own, but there is a lot going on here and it can begin to feel a little overwhelming. There’s a lot to like here, but unfortunately those few disappointments really let an otherwise lovely game down.

The Labo VR kit is a decent bit of hardware and software, but it is in no way comparable to the more pricey VR headsets. Labo VR provides a cheap(er) option ideal for younger audiences, while also being a neat entry point for everyone else to experience a virtual space. If I haven’t made it clear already, the lack of support with no head strap for the goggles is a real let down. The games don’t usually last long, but a game session shouldn’t end from feeling too uncomfortable. Although you shouldn’t let that stop you from trying it out, it still has the Labo charm that Nintendo have put in each collection.

In reality, it’s damn impressive that the XCOM 2 Collection runs on Switch at all. In spite of its visual and technical issues, there’s an incredible (and challenging) tactical experience to be had. Perhaps exercise some patience and invest in some glasses to get the best experience.

My Hero One’s Justice is far from a bad game, but it’s also not an amazing game. There’s not a lot here that blows me away, or makes me want to play for hours and hours. A lot of the draw for me is the story mode, and mission mode, but once those are finished… I’d probably forget about the game. I’m really hoping to see the next game expand on what’s here, for what is a really interesting world and concept where the game ironically does it no justice.

WarioWare: Move It! brings another cavalcade of outlandish ideas to the table in a collection of mostly enjoyable microgames. The variety of poses and actions, the insanity of the visuals, the many ways to play, and the classic WarioWare charm make for another solid entry in the series. Some occasionally unresponsive motion controls and unclear directives, as well as the tedious Form Stone introductions, do bring some frustrations to the package, but there’s something about the ludicrousness of doing things like lassoing a wild animal while standing like a fashion model that just brings a smile to your face.

Despite its many issues, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 stands out with a deep combat system, compelling storyline, and an endearing cast of characters. Just try not to get overwhelmed and give up in those first hours.

The options for the games, whilst interesting, are not where they should be, especially given some of the more recent classic collections. And finally, there are the games. 150 games listed is technically accurate, but still factually wrong; whilst a lot of the games included are fun to play with still, there are a lot, mostly the sports games, that are not, so the overall collection just feels less. Fans of Atari, or anyone who grew up with those games, will find a lot of enjoyment in the collection though, so it is not all bad.

Darksiders 2 is a good game, and this is a decent port to try if you haven’t managed to try it yet. While it does have its hiccups, the game is ultimately the same game you’ve seen elsewhere for better or worse. Despite how slow the series can take to tell the overarching story, I still look forward to seeing what they do with these characters and with Darksiders Genesis. If you’re picking this game up for the second time let’s face it, you want to see what’s going to happen to.

Like the oxygen line connected to your space explorer, you must remain close to Astroneer to gain anything from it. A directionless experience that rewards investment with growing base complexity, combined with the constant possibility of discovery, makes this a perfect game for the right type of player.

Ty being a game from nearly two decades ago is tough to be too harsh on. The remaster was about bringing it to current platforms, it still plays like an old GameCube game. It’s a nice bit of nostalgia revisiting a genre that nowadays is mostly reserved for games looking back at those games. You can’t go wrong if you want to have a bit of Australian video game history, or even just want to help show there’s a demand for remasters of the second and third game. If you're looking for a platformer that takes you back to the ‘good ol days’ of 3D platformers then Ty is a true blue dinky-di ripper.

FIFA 18 is a brilliant game for the Switch, it's custom built for the system, it plays to the strength of the console's local multiplayer and it's, for the most part, fully featured. It doesn't matter that the visuals don't look as good because it runs great, feels great, and is fun to play. However this isn't the perfect FIFA 18 experience overall; the online mode is bare-bones and is missing features even Nintendo wouldn't even leave out and for a lot of people, that's going to be a deal breaker. If you can live with what's missing in FIFA 18, you shouldn't look past this terrific first effort by EA. Hopefully next year they can bring the Switch version up to complete feature parity because we can look past how it looks considering it is a good soccer title underneath.

QUBE 2 is an enjoyable physics-based puzzler, but unfortunately, the game does falter once you take the focus away from the puzzles. While it struggles with visual and technical issues, they’re not enough to keep you from getting to the end of the story. It’s not that the game is bad, the Switch version is just not the most ideal option with the game available on other consoles. If you want a puzzle game that gives you a limited amount of tools to work out how they all fit together, there is still enough to like here to give it a try.

Diablo II Resurrected, for the most part, strikes a perfectly respectable balance between maintaining the look and feel of the original and updating it for a modern audience. It's unambitious, but it doesn't really need to be any more than that — Diablo II was a wonderful game, and all it really needed was a bit of sprucing up at the end of the day. That's been done here, and done mostly well, and the transition to a gamepad is probably is good as it could've been. Still, it feels dated in some ways, and its online/offline character split was a dreadful choice, given how bad the servers have been for it. Still, it is Diablo II, for better and for worse, and if you're like me and have a nostalgic attachment to it, it's probably worth a play.

2064: Read Only Memories Integral holds strong thanks to its diverse crew of interesting characters and socially relevant story, despite sometimes telling more than it shows.

Pine Hearts explores the concept of loss with respect, dignity and with a kind touch. I especially enjoyed talking to the people of Pine Hearts, as well as the colourful world to explore. The respect given to those with impairments is also to be commended. However, the lack of puzzles and the repetitive fetch quest nature of the game does pull back on its potential. I think the team at Hyper Luminal Games have a special talent for broaching difficult topics, and I look forward to what they will bring us in the future.

It's missing some features that would make it a true compendium of Mega Man X, but it's still a great way to play the series today.

If you have fond memories of Another Code, there is definitely value in re-experiencing the original and its sequel. Unfortunately, it feels like a missed opportunity to have made this classic, lesser-known series shine.

Story of Seasons still comes recommended to fans of the farming genre, as it does have enough different to offer over other titles. I have my fingers crossed that the balancing issues are fixed in future patches.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is the best Super Smash Bros game I’ve played not featuring Mario. The fighting system underpinning it is a lot of fun, introducing enough new elements to stand on its own amongst its peers and having enough depth to foster competitive play going forward. It’s a shame that the list of features and content is so threadbare and that some further love hasn’t been shown for the rich source material, but hopefully, the developers can support the game and expand on this in either updates or a sequel. For the time being, this is a solid alternative to Smash Bros if you’re after something a little different, or just want to reset the playing field for that one friend who has just become too good at Ultimate.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a strangely dissonant game that feels torn between wanting to respect the series’ past and wanting to rewrite it. At its core, it’s a solid game that refreshes Yakuza 3 for modern audiences while keeping mostly true to its origins. It’s the rare instances in which it diverges that everything starts to go off the rails, making for an experience that just doesn’t stick the landing.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a reasonably fun revisitation of the first game, carrying over the strong improvements its predecessor gained from patches, including a better shooting system. However, there’s not much in the way of deeply engaging content to keep you playing more than a couple of pickup games with your friends.

Portal Knights on Nintendo Switch is a great little game — it offers a lot more to the experience than Minecraft does, but does not throw you in the deep end like Dragon Quest Builders does, which is coming to Switch in 2018 as well. Players will likely find more appeal when they play with friends, because on your own, the adventure does not seem so grand. That said, given the number of options that you can employ to customise your experience to your choosing, there is plenty to keep solo adventurers coming back.

Endless Ocean is the granddaddy of the cozy game, and there are some great chilled experiences to be had here. Diving with a bunch of people, uncovering mysteries, plus cataloguing and photographing some of the ocean's cutest and most disgusting creatures is a lot of fun. However, the grating AI-voiced story and the near-essential requirement for online to get the most out of it goes against the chilled vibe for which the series is known. It is a game somewhat at odds with itself, but deep down, it is a relaxing, chilled experience one that you can share with massive group of people.

Darksiders Genesis has its flaws for sure. It is still a lot of fun to play and it remains a solid entry in the Darksiders series. I would only recommend playing it in TV mode. With that being said, it might be hard to recommend the Switch version itself if other versions of the game are available, as I suspect the higher resolution may make certain objects easier to spot within the game. If you are a fan of Darksiders though, I can’t recommend this enough. There is a lot here that adds to the overall backstory of the Four Horsemen and the Charred Council.

Everything considered, Best Friend Forever is a joyous treat for dog-lovers and dating-sim enthusiasts alike. Currently, the Nintendo Switch version is a bit unruly, but nothing a trip to the vet and some patches won’t fix.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game holds up today really well in some aspects (visual design and music), but is still held back by its shortcomings over a decade ago (difficult in the beginning, even on the easiest mode; level up system is still too vague). But when you can look past the setbacks, it’s still a solid action game that’s made even more fun if you can get some friends on the couch to play with you. Let’s hope the game doesn’t get obliterated from every digital store in a few years like it did last time...

Limbo runs perfectly fine on the Switch and still looks great, even in handheld. It is even already very reasonably priced. If you’ve somehow missed this notable indie title now is a great time to see what you’ve been missing. At the very least it would hopefully encourage you to buy Inside afterward.

Anodyne takes a bit to get into, but becomes more interesting once the tone and setting sinks in. It might not be for everyone though and you may find yourself confused for the first few hours, but letting go of typical adventure game logic might be enough to let you dive into the mystery and dreamlike nature of its world.

Project Warlock is a blast when it all finally clicks. It does take some warming up to after being thrown in the deep end. With some small tweaks, I managed to deal with the more fiddly issues. If you’ve finished off the old Doom games on your Switch and need another dose of that retro FPS, Project Warlock definitely goes some way to scratch that itch.

Overall the game runs great, looks and sounds good, and still plays great in handheld mode. It is a blast taking on large groups with over the top attacks. Hopefully Namco Bandai have more One Piece games in store for the Switch, but for now Pirate Warriors 3 is a seaworthy addition to the stash.

Mediocre combat, fuzzy visuals. But with the expansions complete, this is a very very solid 50 hour adventure now, and unlike some other DLC-ified games I’ve played, both of The Outer Worlds’ slot very neatly into the original story without feeling unnatural. Now is the time to sink yourself in if you’re a newcomer, and if you’re returning, Murder on Eridanos is a good bit of fun that plays straight into the game’s strengths.

It's impressive achievement to be playing this on the Switch, the cut downs to get it on there are visible, but the core gameplay loop remains fun even if you're looking through vaseline to get there.

Moving Out 2 is a great sequel that nails what the original did well and expands on the concept with fresh ideas. When all the best bits of it coalesce it’s a frantically fun multiplayer experience. Sadly, occasional frustrations rear their head just frequently enough to tarnish the package just a little. Much in the way that the real-life process of moving house can be extremely rewarding in the end, you might have to deal with some aspects being a bit of a chore along the way.

Starbase Startopia is a fun little alien management game. If you're after a new management sim, it could be an excellent comfort game. For newcomers to management games, Starbase is a little too alienating, but if you're just curious how it runs, it runs alright.

The lacking online player base is a shame because there’s an enjoyable experience to be had here. It nails the easy to pick up, hard to master element that defines all great arcade games. The overall package can feel somewhat barebones but if you’ve got the joy-cons to go around this is a great game to introduce to your next game night.

I would have given the game four out of five, but the price of the game on Switch compared to the mobile versions is nearly triple the price without justification. If you can overlook the price differences, it really is a good game and will keep you busy while we wait for Half-Life 3.

Onion Assault is short but sweet, with a couple of onion-induced tears. All in all, it's a decently solid platformer that attempts to recreate an often overlooked part of the moustachioed man's history and for that you have to give it props!

Persona 3 Reload is a visually impressive remake that honours the original in many ways and enhances it in presentation. The graphics and animation are among the best the series has delivered so far, giving new life to a classic. However, if you’re someone who values brisk pacing, rapid story progression, or immediate action, you may find yourself frustrated with how slowly things progress early on. The payoff was worth it for me as an enjoyer of the series and the genre, and I had a great time playing Persona 3 for the first time. I definitely recommend it to fans of Persona 5 who may not have played earlier entries in the series.

Necrobarista: Final Pour is a compelling story of death, grief, and the inevitable passing of our time on this Earth. With an endearing cast, snappy writing, and a careful balancing of humour along with the grim nature of its world, it makes for an enjoyable tale. It may not be the most involved of visual novel games, and the story falls just shy of hitting an emotional home run, but this is still worth a look if you’re after something a little more contemplative.

If you want a shooter that has depth, there is plenty to enjoy here, the length sadly will make the experience end far to quickly for most players.

Clea 2 is a strange survival horror game that does a lot by keeping you tense and mindful of your surroundings. If you want to play a creepy stealth-based game where you’re constantly pursued, then InvertMouse has you covered. For the cautious, the game could drag on a little too long. Speedrunners and survival horror fans will likely get much more out of Clea 2.

I had an enjoyable time playing OTTTD despite its sometimes clumsy controls and overwhelming battles. Skirmishes can often be difficult to focus on and it’s hard to make a comeback if you don’t get a good start, but matches are quick enough that starting again doesn’t feel like such a setback. And the added depth the game’s mechanics gives players plenty of options to play with. If you’re up for a tower defence game that freshens up the formula, OTTTD could be for you.

Payday 2 is an absolute ball when it’s at its best. It gives such a good feeling as you grow from nothing, gradually unlocking more effective skills and equipment and taking on tougher heists. It’s even better when you’re playing with other people because you can complement each other with your different skillsets and split up the mission objectives between each other; there’s a harmony in the chaos you cause. The unfortunate thing though is that between the missing content and the performance issues, the Switch port is far from the definitive version. As someone who already loved the game I can endure the drawbacks in order to get a portable version of the game, because it is really good when it comes together! But at the same time it’s so hard to recommend newcomers to take a gamble with it at full RRP. Wait for a sale or a patch, because there’s something great hiding behind the issues.

Both MySims games deliver on their promise of fun, relaxed simulation experiences with a lot of charm and creativity, each with its own flavor; one focused on free-form creativity, the other on structured adventure and kingdom-building. Whilst I found major issues with some of the menus and with the camera controls – or lack thereof – the overall experience was still an enjoyable one.

Jackbox Party Pack 6 is another solid addition to the franchise. It follows the tradition of featuring a couple of standout hits, some decent entries and one that probably won’t get a second look. Despite borrowing ideas heavily from prior packs, the highlights here are great and both Trivia Murder Party 2 and Push the Button alone make it worth the price of admission. It’s not the strongest Jackbox pack, but it’s still one of the best casual multiplayer experiences for gamers and non-gamers alike.

Pac-Man CE2+ is Pac-Man high off his own fame - producing follow-up sequels that continually depart further from what made him popular in the first place. Flashy, but largely superfluous, Pac-Man CE2+ presents short bursts of bite-sized fun with its novel co-op Score Attack mode exclusive to Switch, but the Adventure Mode feels empty in its lack of spontaneity. High score-hunting fiends will be in their element here, but not necessarily those looking for enjoyment without external motivators.

Although some of the action and interactive elements of The Walking Dead: The Final Season retain the clunkiness of prior games, the satisfying way in which Clementine’s story wraps up makes jumping into the Telltale-Skybound tandem effort worth it.

Maneater is a decent open-world Shark game. It's fun slicing through the water as a shark. The Switch version holds up, although it doesn't fix the repetitiveness of the game. If you want a game where you can just swim around an open world without thinking too much, Maneater will give you something to sink your teeth into and thrash the life out of it for ten hours or so. Also still got the song stuck in my head in case you were wondering, I hope it’s in yours too.

If you’re in the mood to hunker down with an interesting story, off-beat characters and a sci-fi adventure across time and space, Beautiful Desolation fits the bill nicely. Just be sure to have a second screen handy with an online guide to smooth out the journey.

Like Valiant Hearts, this game is tough to put a score to. Games like this tell important stories and attempt to use video games as a medium to help educate as well as share experiences from devastating wars. My Memory of Us does a good job of retelling and reimagining the Nazi occupation of Poland. It falters at points, especially the moments when the game around the story is frustrating. Yet it’s hard to ignore the visual style they’ve chosen, coupled with an affecting soundtrack.

If you've never played Turok: Dinosaur Hunter before and wondered what all the fuss is about then this is one of the best ways to enjoy it. The gyroscope controls make the frustrating parts of the games almost go away and you're left with an unapologetically 90s first-person shooter that's still a lot of fun, despite still being very awkward. Not just one for fans of the era.

There's a lot to love about The Plucky Squire. It’s Zelda-inspired without being a complete clone and introduces a bunch of new ideas and fun mini-games. The ability to dip in and out of the storybook with two different presentations is interesting, though a little fuzzy in 3D on the Switch. However, the game seems determined to stop you from playing it, constantly interrupting you or offering help with tasks that are obvious from a mile away. Sometimes, games can just be a little shorter, and that’s alright too.

If you are looking for a massive, portable RPG adventure, the existence of alternative (and arguably better) experiences in the form of Skyrim, Divinity: Original Sin II and The Witcher 3 mean that unless you are an absolute fantasy fiend you'd likely be better served elsewhere. Of course, if you've already scoured these games to their limits, and are inclined to really push into this genre, then Re-Reckoning, especially at its reasonable RRP, would be worth your investment.

Putty Pals takes full advantage of the Switch's concept and runs with it, plus it's always great to see more co-operative games. You'll really need to have someone to play it with, luckily for Putty Pals its pretty accessible and anyone should be able to pick up and enjoy it. Putty Pals is good old-fashioned fun.

World’s End Club is an entertaining, if wonky, adventure ride where the roof blows off, then the doors, then the bonnet, then someone falls out, then they run into a clothesline full of flapping laundry that blinds the driver, then they drive off a cliff, yet they still keep going, and going, and going, and going.

Ultimately, Skully feels to me like the little game that could. It’s rough around the edges, sure, but it has heart and a solid underpinning that I hope Finish Line Games run with for a sequel. When it all comes together it inspires the same kind of wonder you might have felt when you were a kid trying to navigate your way through your first platformer - frustrations and all.

The Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection was an interesting title to review. As a newcomer to the series, it was a daunting series to get into without having played this style of dungeon crawler in over a decade. The benefits of including easier modes for people who just want to explore what the dungeons have on offer should not be discounted, but with a notebook, some grid paper, plenty of patience, and a willingness to experiment and try different strategies in battle makes for a compelling trilogy. However, if you do not the patient type of player, or if excessive exploration and dungeon crawling for minimal plot do not sound all that appealing, it may not be the title for you.

Shin Megami Tensei V is more of what SMT fans would want, now with open-ish worlds and platforming. The Press Turn mechanic is still enjoyable and keeps the game interesting as you try to best or befriend every demon that comes your way. Newcomers might find the brutal difficulty off-putting, with too much grinding for too little story. I have no doubts it will be a beloved Shin Megami Tensei game for the already converted. I’ve always enjoyed the series but hope it can become even more accessible to a broader audience and still keep everything that makes it what it is. But we might be waiting for the next game for that to happen.

Cook Serve Forever takes a nice breather from the hectic menu management of the main trilogy while still keeping the spirit of the series. While Cook, Serve, Delicious: Re-Mustard! is still in the oven, this side adventure is still a fun time.

While it’s impossible to separate NBA 2K20 from its questionable monetisation techniques, there’s no disputing that it’s a fantastic basketball game. Best of all, there are next to no concessions made for the Nintendo Switch version - it feels great to play and runs excellently.

For me, it was definitely less enjoyable than regular Picross and its charm, polish and relaxing atmosphere. Having this many new puzzles is great though, and it’s not as if the actual concept has changed much. If you’re an Overlord fan, you’ll want to be a Picross fan too, as there doesn’t seem to be anything to experience here that’s not already a part of the show, but you’ll be rewarded with some fun themed puzzles. I don’t think I can speak too badly of anything here but if you’re new to both sides of the crossover, go play a different Picross - you’ll find a more pleasant experience there. If a more involved story mode was included, I could easily recommend this to everyone. Sadly, today it’s not the case.

The Warriors franchise has gotten a reputation for being button mashers, Warriors Orochi 4 won’t change people’s minds. For fans, this game is the biggest gathering of characters from two series and it’ll be a joy to see them all interacting together. For new or less invested fans into Warriors games, there’s less to draw you in. There can be a relaxing, zen-like quality to hacking through large numbers of enemies, but ultimately it feels like there is little substance outside of the oversized roster. Warriors Orochi 4 and the Warriors series itself aren’t bad games. Between the story campaign and leveling up your warriors and camp, you could be busy for a while.

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes is certainly an oddball that I enjoyed. Suda51’s penchant for Western culture, mixed in with toilet humour and one-liners, makes for an enjoyable time. The game itself is very “samey” throughout the whole adventure, but looking past that and discovering a game that is very well-written, self-aware and funny makes it just beyond the cusp of recommendation.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is a hard game to recommend. Series veterans and anyone who skipped Generations on the 3DS will find a lot to enjoy, but newcomers to the series, especially those who played World, will struggle to get past the clunky controls and inaccessible design choices. There's a good game here, it's just obscured at times by its 3DS origins, and more often than not feels like a huge step backwards.

Gods Will Fall is an interesting take on both the rogue and hard-game genre. Its reliance on randomisation of character stats, weapons and dungeon difficulty makes it perfect for short or long plays and helps to keep the player hooked with moments ranging from abject difficulty to hilarious ease.

Kirby’s Dream Buffet has a smorgasbord of things to unlock that long-time Kirby fans will appreciate. However the gameplay is fairly shallow, and it won’t take long for you to feel like you’re enjoying thing over and over again. The omission of a four player offering for local multiplayer on one system stops it from becoming a true party staple. The core game here is super fun, but just a few ingredients missing that stop it from becoming a true five star dish.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a solid collection of brain-teasing minigames that’s enjoyable enough alone but is unlikely to hold your attention for an extended period unless you’ve got some fellow brainiacs to go up against. That competitive drive to improve and beat your friends and family will keep you coming back once the allure of another cute hat wears off. If you’ve got some people to share the experience with, you’ll have a good time with this one.

It’s all a fascinating idea, with a rich world for you to explore. It’s the closest thing to a true hybrid of a book and a video game, with plenty of reliance on your own imagination mixed with excitement and control. I’d highly recommend it if you’re after a deep game to take your time with and soak in, and if you’re used to really bad dice rolls.

A solid mini-game collection that might just serve as a great addition to your game nights as the Olympics draw nearer. Steer clear of a few dud events and you’ll find a satisfying multiplayer experience on offer, and the highly varied story mode means there’s something here for the solo player too. It won’t set your world on fire, but it’s hard not to have fun as you go for gold, even if the game never quite makes it to the top podium.

Reanimal allows Tarsier Studio to spread their wings from their previous titles, while still keeping a lot of their signature style. If you can’t get enough of kids surviving tense, atmospheric, and unsettling horrors, then Reanimal has you covered. It might not reinvent the genre, but it takes steps forward. The main thing is that Tarsier still knows how to make a creepy, dark, and gross, yet exciting game.

Force Unleashed had a lot of love when it was first made. For its time, the game provided a new Star Wars adventure with a fun and novel way to play it. Now more than a decade later, games are made differently, and The Force Unleashed features a lot of gameplay mechanics we don't see anymore. Stiff and repetitive waggle controls are now at least optional, but quick-time events and a wooden presentation make this a great example of what games were a long time ago, in a galaxy not too far away.

Planet Alpha is a beautiful and fun fast-paced puzzle platformer. It was fun working my way across the lush yet dangerous world. There’s a few annoying bits and pieces, but the good far outweighs those moments. If games of this genre usually feel a bit short, then the good news is that Planet Alpha lasts over 5 hours. If you’re into side-scrolling platformers with puzzles added in you should check it out.

The Namco Museum Archives Vol 1 and 2 are a decent trip down memory lane. The previously unlocalised games and rarities will entice retro game enthusiasts. A bunch of the classics are here, and some alright games too. Dividing the collection into two volumes only serves to squeeze a little extra money out of you for Famicom/NES versions of games. The 8-bit demakes of Pac-Man Championship Edition and Gaplus make great additions and show up the older games a little, but overall fit in amongst the bunch. If you want the original version of the classics then you’re better off with the older Namco Museum Collection, it’s really the rarities and previous Japan-only titles that make these volumes stand out.

Runbow is an excellent local multiplayer experience, packed with plenty of game modes and content. Solo players will miss out on the best Runbow has to offer, and I encountered some crashes along the way, but definitely consider this for your upcoming games night with friends.

The Namco Museum Archives Vol 1 and 2 are a decent trip down memory lane. The previously unlocalised games and rarities will entice retro game enthusiasts. A bunch of the classics are here, and some alright games too. Dividing the collection into two volumes only serves to squeeze a little extra money out of you for Famicom/NES versions of games. The 8-bit demakes of Pac-Man Championship Edition and Gaplus make great additions and show up the older games a little, but overall fit in amongst the bunch. If you want the original version of the classics then you’re better off with the older Namco Museum Collection, it’s really the rarities and previous Japan-only titles that make these volumes stand out.

Alien: Isolation is a good Alien game. While it overstays its welcome, Creative Assembly really did their best to ground a tense survival game in the Alien universe. Honestly, for all the games flaws, it manages to capture the essence of the movies better than the sequels and prequels have managed past Aliens. Feral has done an outstanding job bringing Isolation onto the Switch and have it run without issues while still looking great. For fans of the Alien franchise, you’re not going to get any better than this It’s not perfect, but neither are the movies. If you want the crap scared out of you over an extended period of time, check out Alien: Isolation.

Sniper Elite III Ultimate Edition is a satisfying stealth sandbox but only if you engage with it on its terms. This means being patient, learning to sit still among the trappings of war and only take your shot when you’re absolutely ready. That patience is rewarded at every turn with a meaty campaign, gutturally enjoyable carnage and the quiet satisfaction of a job well done. It’s not for everyone but for those looking for a unique shooter experience, Sniper Elite III Ultimate Edition on Switch is a damn good deal.

Shining Resonance Refrain is a decent action RPG. While the story doesn’t really tread any new ground, the characters are likeable enough to want to see it through. The combat gameplay is fun if you enjoy a fast-paced battle, and the musical elements add a neat feature on top of the usual mechanics. And it’s all playable on a portable device. While it’s harder to recommend this over more recent games of this genre, If you can’t get enough of action RPG’s then Shining Resonance has something to offer.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble starts a bit slow, but the later worlds and levels offer new and unique features I’ve never seen in Monkey Ball before. The risk with the spin dash is fun, but I feel like it often won’t be used over the required precision. However, I’m sure people will find ways to hack this game. They still haven’t got the mini-games combinations just right. However, it’s the fresh ideas the series has needed for a while and the best Monkey Ball game in some time.

Tomba is a product of a bygone era, resuscitated and presented as it was, with no nostalgic filters on top. The good here outweighs the bad, but there’s no denying that it looks, feels, and plays just like Tomba did on the PS1. It’s one of the more impressive sidescrollers of the era, with some bold ideas that were well ahead of its time, but the usual frustrations and limitations are present too, as they rightly should be.

The Adventure mode in Mario Tennis Aces was a long-requested feature, and eight years later I was expecting something more evolved. Instead, I was left disappointed by an Adventure mode that acts as a painful tutorial for almost half of its runtime. That said, it is only one part of the game, and the rest of Mario Tennis Fever is very enjoyable. The Fever Rackets add a new dimension to the gameplay, and the expanded character roster makes finding the best combinations even more challenging. The side-show modes are the real stars here, and they make it clear where the game truly shines. More time spent on zany tennis ideas like these, and less on Adventure mode for the next one.

There’s a lot to love about Felix the Reaper. Its puzzles are deep and challenging, its presentation is deliciously morbid, and it’s packed to the rafters with charm and character. Unfortunately, the Switch version of the game is held back by an unwieldy control scheme, a lacklustre resolution, and agonisingly long load times, which all hold back what could have been one of the best puzzle games of the year. That said, I cannot recommend it enough… but maybe play on PC instead.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town faithfully revisits and modernises the Game Boy Advance Harvest Moon classic, which will delight nostalgia-seekers. However, there’s still plenty of room for the Story of Seasons series to grow in a post-Stardew Valley world.

Incredible art and animation lift Röki up even without any particularly exciting mechanical design present (though what is there is very good). If you don’t enjoy point and click adventures you might find Röki lacking, but otherwise, this is an enjoyable and touching tale.

Timespinner is an enjoyable game that stands alongside other good Metroidvanias, but not above them. It has an interesting story that somehow feels both epic and somewhat contained at the same time, but is full of background lore that is challenging to make sense of in its own right. Its visual style looks great, and in some moments really stands out, and features a wide cast of enemies to fight along the way, including some challenging boss battles. In the end, Lunar Ray Games delivers a solid experience - but not an exceptional one.

Bayonetta Origins initially feels like a twisted fairytale (faerie tale?) from Cerezas childhood. By the end, it also feels like a companion piece to Bayonetta 3. Origins changes up the familiar Bayonetta hack-and-slash with an action adventure in a similar vein to the Legend of Zelda series whilst still keeping the spirit of its predecessors. While I have my issues with the game, Cereza and Cheshire’s adventure is endearing and it is fun to see how they grow closer in a world where Witches don’t make friends with Demons.

Crossing Souls definitely ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to a 1980s homage. The story is well written, and the developers have done a decent job of bringing me down memory lane. Despite the moments of hair-pulling ridiculousness that is precision platforming that seemingly fights against the rest of the game, Crossing Souls is definitely worth checking out for ‘80s fans.

The VideoKid doesn’t pretend to be anything grander than what it is, a different take on the Paperboy formula with a 80/90s pop culture theme. It improves along the original formula and makes it more playable in this day and age. It really is a game that is best in short bursts. It is quite shallow and when you buy all the tricks and characters within, there is only score to try and beat. If you’re after a cheap arcadey run based game that embraces the pop culture a lot of us grew up with, then there isn’t much to lose here.