Is Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park better than just more Super Mario Bros. Wonder with more stages and more Wonder effects? We’ll never know, but what is here is a fun package of minigames built into the Wonder mould, you’ll just need to navigate the slightly confusing way the modes are all laid out, but least you’ll have your friends with you to do so.

If you fit into a very specific type of player, PGA Tour 2K25 on Switch 2 could still be great for you. The core golf is excellent. It’s just let down badly by the packaging around it.

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.

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.

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.

There’s no better time to get back into Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It’s hot outside, everything is too expensive, and the real reason to return right now is the free 3.0.0 update, which adds genuinely excellent quality-of-life improvements and new content to the game (for free). If you’ve got a 4K TV, play with a lot of people, and care deeply about getting your home designs just right, then the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade will serve you well. But for most people, you might be able to just skip it.

Terminator 2D: No Fate isn't a long game, you can smash through it in about an hour, but like the movie itself, every time you play it you find something new and learn to appreciate it just a little bit more. Aside from one level that doesn't lend itself particularly well to being replayed, there's a lot here to go back for whenever you're feeling like a bit of Terminator. The game does lean on the licence a lot, so if you've no nostalgia for the series, you might just feel like you're missing out on something. I'll be back (for another run).

There's a lot of fun to be had in this port of Tomb Raider, although not for poor Lara who gets smashed around quite a bit. The story, while a bit silly at times, is good enough to hold your attention for its length. The Switch 2 can definitely do more than this, and we’re left with a game that runs great but could look better. At a higher price they wouldn’t get away with it, but for the asking price, it’s not too bad.

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.

It's a hard sell at the price of $30 AUD. With little to do on DK Island but to appreciate the nods to the past, Emerald Rush needs to add enough to give players something to do, which it does, depending on how much you enjoy time-based smashing challenges through layers you’ve seen before. Hopefully, there will be a sale on the DLC at some point; otherwise, I could only really recommend it for those who love Donkey Kong Country or roguelite side modes.

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.

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.

Splatterbot is a fun, brief multiplayer game solely developed by a one-person team at Hey! Kookaburra. The game works best in short bursts with friends, and it never presents itself as anything grander. Sometimes it’s nice to have a solid party game that’s easy to pick up and play.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with Drag X Drive — the control scheme is engaging and fun — but there’s no getting past the fact that, aside from those controls, this is just a very bare-bones and drab-looking basketball wheelchair game. If the controls aren’t enough to keep you hooked, there’s really nothing else here to hold your attention. The game feels like it was split off from a bigger concept or a package of games, and while Nintendo has expressed a desire to make cheaper, smaller titles, could they at least make them less empty in both atmosphere and features than this one?

I hope Nintendo handles future Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + New Content releases in a more organised and organic way. It’s overly complicated to play through the different modes, with caveats everywhere, which means some modes don’t get the proper Switch 2 Edition treatment. Mario Party superfans will enjoy the new modes for the main board games, but the Jamboree TV additions—aside from the mouse games—are a bit average. Jamboree was a solid and complete package, and this just splits it all up and breaks the flow.

Patapon 1 + 2 is a great overall collection. Bringing back a couple of unique titles from the PlayStation Portable provides a rhythm experience that is difficult to find anywhere else. There are some significant improvements to the visuals, however as a remastered collection, it lacks much else beyond that. The games are demanding, and there will be a lot of repetition and planning that may not be for everyone. However, there is not anything quite like the feel of successfully finishing a level and keeping the little Patapons happy.

Ultimately, Sonic X Shadow Generations reflects my long-running relationship with Sonic games. Like having Sonic and Shadow on both my shoulders, I felt both frustration and delight during various aspects of the game. Minor control issues and level designs get in the way of pure enjoyment, though there is still a sense of fun and speed that shines through. Shadow’s campaign adds some welcome variety but left me wanting more from it. The 3D levels are pure 3D Sonic—for better or worse—and the 2D levels do not capture the magic of the Mega Drive classics. Sonic fans will rejoice in revisiting Sonic’s old worlds and reliving Shadow’s past.

We used to read instruction manuals in the back of the car on the way home for fun — we didn’t buy them, they weren’t as complex as this — but we’ve already been sold on the Switch 2, so we don’t need convincing again. There are worse ways to spend the same money Nintendo is asking for this, but there are also better.

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.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered gives the series a fresh coat of paint and introduces quality-of-life improvements that make the games more approachable in 2025. However, they still show their age, and the lack of improvements to the save system hinders the momentum of an already challenging experience. Despite this, there’s still plenty to enjoy—especially for those who have been waiting for these classics to get a new lease on life.

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is a game aimed at a younger audience, and while it looks the part, it ultimately feels like a bit of a chore to play through. The content is fairly barebones—there are 50 levels, but aside from a few gadgets and the occasional interesting boss battle, the core gameplay is rather dull and stiff. You’d really need to be a big Dog Man fan to look past its shortcomings.

Fitness Boxing 3 keeps the sweat up just as much as the previous games in the series. There are enough new modes here to keep things interesting, but how long you stick with it depends on your ability to find the time to exercise. I played much of this in handheld mode after waking up in the morning, and that worked for me. It is a great package, and makes for a good introduction to exercising. It has its annoyances for sure, but nothing big enough that would prevent me recommending this title to anyone looking to improve their overall physical wellbeing.

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.

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.

Monster Jam Showdown faithfully recreates the dual-steering controls and physics of driving a monster truck — for better or worse. However, the game's story mode quickly devolves into a grind-heavy experience with events that all end up feeling the same. It's faithful to a fault.

The Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is still an oddity. The number of challenges tucked away within falls short of what would be expected from a collection like this, while also doing very little to honor its namesake. What is there is a fun little collection of retro classics reduced down to minigame-sized chunks. How much you enjoy it will really come down to your fondness for NES games. This game is very much for speedrunners or people who are up for a time-based challenge.

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.

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.