If you want a little more time with Joker and the crew, then Tactica should be a welcome addition to your games collection.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 gives Monster Hunter fans even more monsties than they bargained for in 2021. This spin-off from the traditional games is an enjoyable adventure, even if the story is a little generic. If you’ve wanted to enjoy the Monster Hunter world without all of the pressure from the main entries, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is an excellent game for fans and people looking for a time to jump in.

Agent A is cute, clever and an absolute joy of a world to play around in. It’s the sort of game where you can, like I did, invite someone to sit on the couch with you and help out with some puzzle solving, or just keep it on hand to occasionally pick up and play through a chapter. It’s absolutely worth your time and money, but if you’re grabbing it for the Switch just be prepared for a more handheld experience.

There’s a lot of detail and care put into Super One More Jump, and at $8 AUD on the eShop, it may just be that perfect game to pick up and play to kill some time.

My Friend Pedro is a wild action-packed ride, where there is no such thing as too excessive. With hours of unleashing hell on a bunch of ne’er-do-wells is good and all, managing to do it while obtaining an S grade is a tougher task. Pedro might not be a grand narrative experience, but it brings everything else to the party. Some of the one-off levels might not work so well, but they are far outnumbered by those that do. If you’ve enjoyed the trailers or enjoy run based puzzles solved by shooting people, then My Friend Pedro is for you.

Overall, Conga Master Party! is great value. The Switch has become the perfect home for these cheaper indie games with a surprising amount of content, and best of all they’re fun to play. The story mode can take a few hours and is best enjoyed in short sessions, but the multiplayer modes really bring the game to life and is a good game to chuck on amongst good company and put your bonds of friendship to the test.

Little Nightmares III continues to deliver on gross, slimy and twisted horrors. This creepy adventure manages to keep the scenery fresh enough the third time around, while still feeling familiar in good ways. If you liked the previous games, then you’re likely to enjoy diving in, even if this title is a little more of a slow burn than its predecessor. If this is your first nightmare, it’s a good jumping in point too.

If you're waiting for the Lego Star Wars: Skywalker Saga to finally come out to satisfy your Lego game fix, Lego Marvel Superheroes will help tide you over. It is unfortunate it's taken so long to come out on the Switch. It's one of the more enjoyable Lego games over the last eight years.

Taking the inspired recipe from Overcooked and adding several pinches of improvements across the board, Overcooked 2 is a great game to play with others - despite an imperfect online lobby system and the lack of multiplayer customisation.

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code doesn’t shy away from being deeply strange. It’s a delightful mystery game in the vein of Ace Attorney with every dial turned up to 11. Its art direction, music, world design, and gameplay are all solid, even if there’s far too much of everything, and despite some suspect writing with certain characters, it’s hard to look at it too harshly. My only wish is that, if there’s to be a sequel someday, somebody brings in an editor and trims down some of the fat.

Beautifully animated, voiced and orchestrated, Wulverblade is an irresistible package for fans of side-scrolling fighters. A few minor issues merely smudge the face paint of this epic Britannica adventure.

Everspace: Stellar Edition works as a fun space combat game and as a run-based rogue-lite, it even comes with DLC not available with the original game so there are lots to do as you make your way across the universe. Getting into dogfights (the space fighter kind, not the horrible kind) and flying through large shipwrecks scratches an itch that the Switch has left itching for too long, and fortunately, there’s plenty of hours you can sink into it (that said I would also love the Rebel Galaxy follow up!). While it doesn’t run and look as great as other versions, it still runs pretty well and besides some minor hard to see visuals, it’s great for handheld too. If Starlink wasn’t enough space fighting, definitely check out Everspace.

The Binding of Isaac is a game where you’ll get out what you put in. There’s so much to uncover that fleshes out the simple mechanics into a deep and rich experience, but you have to work for it. If you’re someone who hates looking up wikis or guides to assist with playing games, then it’s definitely not for you. The portability of the Switch version makes it more enjoyable than those on other platforms, but the unfortunate Australian pricing of it complicates recommending it because it’s just too much.

If you haven’t played Doom before, you should definitely play it. It’s a culmination of ideas and passion since the 90s, leading to a thoroughly enjoyable experience. If you’ve played it before on another platform, this *is* a downgrade in graphics and some features, but the idea of playing Doom wherever you go, TV or not, is going to be huge deal for most players.

Hyrule Warriors may be one of my favourite games on the Wii U, and while I wasn’t as engaged in the characters and world of Fire Emblem Warriors, I loved every minute of the game both on N3DS and Switch. While the game is still fresh and will have several DLC and updates in the months to come, if you have any interest in a musou game, this is easily the best and smoothest on the Switch so far.

Overall Immortal Redneck is fun to play. It’s not punishingly hard and the game is enjoyable enough to keep you going with the upgrade loop as you grow more powerful to get more gold…so you can grow more powerful. It’s nice to get a change from the top-down roguelikes and be able to jump around and not worry that one wrong move will stop you dead. If you’re looking for a good challenge and enjoy a good first-person shooter then you should give Immortal Redneck a look.

Consistently surprising, challenging and delightful, Slime-san is totally worth a look.

Despite some frustrations, it’s hard to deny that Octopath Traveler 0 is yet another successful and enjoyable entry in the series. It’s fantastic that the excellent story content previously locked behind a mobile game is more available and even improved, and new additions to an already wonderful combat system make it a joy to play.

While Resident Evil Revelations 2 borrows sparingly from its contemporaries, it is better than it's budget would have you believe it to be. The story is just the right amount of schlock with a smaller yet more focused cast. The tension is actually present in a moody well realised setting. The overall game feel lends itself to a much more enjoyable experience when compared to its predecessor too. Add in a comprehensive (yet slightly grindy) Raid Mode and you've got yourself a winner.

When it runs at 100%, Mr Shifty is thrilling, challenging and satisfying when played at high speed - as it should be played. Unfortunately, performance issues and a bland personality slightly hold it back from reaching Hotline Miami levels of grandeur.

Triangle Strategy is an excellent strategy game with a heavy focus on a very good, very malleable story. Characters are well-written and very likeable, the story goes to some absolutely fascinating places, and the game’s strategy combat is best-in-class amongst its peers. Unfortunately, inconsistent visuals and a gameplay/story balance skewed far too heavily on the story side hold it back at times — but looking past that is easy when the rest of it is so good.

What I most loved about Sparklite was how friendly it feels. While that’s partly due to the lighthearted adventure atmosphere, I think it’s the straightforwardness of the mechanics that really grab me. You’re not asked to navigate any complex systems or optimise your reaction times, you’re just getting in there and having some fun, without having to feel patronised or like things have been dumbed down. There’s definitely room in roguelikes for some chilled out fun, and while Sparklite isn’t perfect, that’s exactly what I had.

Subnautica: Below Zero does a great job at giving Subnautica fans a new part of the world to discover. All packed in with a story and interactions to help you not feel so alone in the world this time around. Planet 4546B is still an amazing underwater world filled with weird and dangerous wildlife. The story helps keep you focused if you want to see everything there to see with some goals to aim for. Or, if you wish, you can focus on gathering resources, building up your base and soak in the world at your own pace. Subnautica: Below Zero is a solid game on the Switch, and both runs and looks better than expected. If you want an enjoyable survival game or underwater exploration game, you should dive in.

The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is a classic adventure book brought to life in the most spectacular fashion. It’s an absolute joy to play, aesthetically beautiful, and a perfect fit for the stop-and-start nature of the Switch. It has a few performance issues, and it could do with maybe a little bit more polish, but that’s easy to overlook when the experience on offer is so fulfilling. Tin Man Games has delivered a faithful representation of a classic story, in a fashion truly worth of the Fighting Fantasy name.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker offers very little for those who have played it before, but if you haven’t played before then you’re in for a treat. Treasure Tracker might look adorable on the surface but under lurks a fun and innovative puzzler, one that might just be better played on your own adventure away from the TV.

There aren't a lot of card games on the Switch, and even fewer in which you have to breed sheep; Shephy succeeds in being the best the Switch has to offer on both fronts. It's easy to pick up, fun to play, and more strategic than you'd expect for a sheep-based solitaire. While the translation efforts leave something to be desired, it's good enough to get the gist of what's going on, and there's very little standing in the way of just how fantastic this game can be.

As the first release by Sbug Games, Webbed is a brilliant romp that’ll make you proud of the Australian video game scene. The sets and characters have a lot of charm and swinging around the bush and launching Buddy the spider feels great. Webbed should definitely be on the radar of Aussies and non-Aussies alike!

Contra: Operation Galuga did crash on me a few times, the loading screens are longer than I'd expect for a 2.5D game, and some of the prices in the perk shop are ridiculous, but ultimately it's a great bit of fun. I've been missing run and gun action like this since primary school. Bill Rizer and Lance Bean, I salute you.

Automachef is complicated and sometimes downright difficult, but effortlessly charming and satisfying to crack once you finally get the gist of things. If you’ve ever been curious about an automation game, grab your apron and your toolbox, and witness your own mechanical cooking genius.

Hotline Miami and Hotline Miami 2 are an exercise in desensitised violence to the point where playing them feels good. And the choice of weapons and strategy offer enough to vary up the gameplay – and that’s before playing with different masks, which further change up the mechanics (eg. one mask gives the ability to dodge-roll, while another disables weapons but increases melee strength). The over-the-top violence and twitch-gameplay may not gel with everyone, but this Collection is a strong example of modern, fast-paced beat ‘em ups.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution brings together almost everything seasoned Yu-Gi-Oh players could ask for, and also serves as a great entry point to the series for complete newcomers or lapsed fans. The staggering number of campaign matches and challenges is impressive, and the absurd card count means there’s no end to the combinations and tactics you can come up with. It’s undeniably a more complicated card game than it once was and although that can be a little intimidating at first, persevere and you’ll find one of the most rewarding collectable card games around.

Disney Illusion Island is a delightful adventure that had me grinning from start to finish. It’s a colourful romp brimming with personality and charm that will warm the heart of anyone who had even somewhat of an affinity for the House of Mouse as a child. With fun platforming, gorgeous animation and a fantastic soundtrack, it is easy to recommend at its budget price despite its relatively brief length.

Overall, I was surprised by how much fun I had with RAD. Levels might feel a little formulaic, but I didn’t mind as it meant I was able to quickly figure out what my goals were. Some enemy types make for good fodder, and the randomised combinations of exo mutations make each playthrough unique. The ‘80s pop culture tropes and visuals are becoming cliched at this point, but in this case they mostly work and the music often riffs on popular classics like Michael Jackson’s Thriller, among others. If you’re looking for a single-player, dungeon-crawling roguelike with the added bonus of fighting mutants, while becoming one yourself, look no further than RAD.

The Red Strings Club fits into a niche, a cyberpunk narrative with a touch of noir bundled with in a adventure game. If any of these genres grabs your interest then you should pull up a seat, make a drink and soak into the electronic synth tunes as The Red Strings Club gives you something to really think about.

It's a cliché, but Metroid Dread won't be a game for everyone. If you like a game that doesn't hold your hand at all, is brutally difficult, requires precision from every movement and busts your back, you'll love Samus' latest mission. If not, your experience will vary depending on how much you can put up with the genre’s pitfalls and what might be considered obtuse design decisions. Metroid Dread almost broke me several times, but it might just be what you're after. It took a while, but Samus is back, and hopefully not going away for so long this time.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a difficult game to recommend. That’s not to say it’s bad by any stretch of the imagination — it’s an excellent game, just like its predecessors on the GBA and DS — but Mystery Dungeon games tend to be incredibly hit and miss. You either love the genre or you hate it. If you love it, there’s a lot of joy to be had here, especially if you played Red or Blue Rescue Team. If you don’t love it, there’s not a lot here that makes it worth playing, short of it being a cute little game about adorable Pokémon. More than anything though, Rescue Team DX is a textbook example of both what to do and what not to do in a remake, in a balancing act that lands more often than it falls.

Minor quibbles aside, you’ll have a great time with Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival if you’re a fan of music games and have a penchant for percussion or rhythm in general. With a vast and exotic music library and multiple ways to play, it’s easy to get swept up with the beat. Playing with a drum controller elevates the experience to another level if you can swing it, but there’s still plenty to be enjoyed here without it.

If you need more Picross games in your life Depixtion is a good addition to the genre. While the three-layer puzzles aren’t groundbreaking, they are a pleasant change. If you can look past the minimalist menus there are plenty of Nonograms to solve. I’m not sure what else to tell you, if you’re a Nonogram fan then this is an easy choice, if you’re new to this style of puzzle it is worth having a try.

Above all else, Clustertruck is simply a fun game to play. Producing many laugh-out-loud moments thanks to its goofy concept, and plenty of satisfying, fast-paced platforming, Clustertruck is a trucking good time despite a couple moments of frustration.

It’s so refreshing to be able to declare a third-party Nintendo Switch title as the truly definitive edition. Disgaea 5 Complete is just that – complete. It’s a competent strategy RPG packed to the brim with content that’s bound to keep RPG aficionados entertained for hours and hours. Despite this, some rough visuals and a little bit too much of an emphasis on grinding is bound to limit Disgaea 5 Complete’s mass appeal. Putting that all aside, Disgaea 5 Complete is accessible, and more importantly, great.

While Mario Bros. is one of the less exciting classic games out there, everything else in this release set a new standard for retro re-releases.

Aspire: Ina’s Tale still leaves an outstanding impression. Traversing the big ol’ tower and solving puzzles with Ina was satisfying despite a few tricky hiccups. The brilliant art style is the absolute star of the show, however. Aspire: Ina’s Tale is a game with striking visuals that’ll keep you agasp through its entirety.

Butcher commits to it's ultraviolent nihilistic aesthetic completely and if you’ve the stomach for it, it’s a hell of a ride. Every piece from the fast-paced movement and gunplay to the thick atmosphere of the levels and music combines to form an immensely challenging action game where every death just begs you to take another stab. If you have a nihilistic bone in your body and an appetite for fast-paced challenging action - Butcher will satisfy.

Flood of Light is a unique and challenging puzzle game with that does a great job of getting your grey matter working. For the most part it strikes a great balance between difficulty and satisfaction, and runs for the perfect length to make the most of the ideas on offer. Some minor quibbles slightly dampen what is otherwise a strong overall package, but the interesting core puzzle mechanic and stunning artwork make a trip through this submerged city worth your time.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is an incredibly fun fighter for both beginners and veterans. Its utterly gorgeous visuals truly capture the look and feel of the Dragon Ball anime, and its streamlined mechanics make for a remarkable gameplay experience. The tutorial leaves a lot to be desired, and the difficulty curve in the story mode is a bit too flat, but if you can get past that, this is the perfect game for fans of both Dragon Ball and the fighter genre.

Mortal Kombat has always continued to evolve over its 25-year history and 11 is no different. Despite the weaker hardware, you've still got the Mortal Kombat experience - it just doesn't look as good as what you're getting elsewhere. If you can put that aside and forgive the game online pain for forgetting it's on a handheld, you've got a terrific Mortal Kombat game in the palm of your hands. I don't know why I ever stopped playing these games.

Wolfenstein II on the Switch is as much a technical feat as it is a fun and solid experience. If you’re after the ultimate version of the game, this is probably not for you. But if you want a new way to play the latest instalment in the series, this is definitely worth checking out.

The looming question over Samus Returns is whether it will join the ranks of esteemed titles such as the approachable Zero Mission, or the seemingly untouchable Super Metroid. I was in no rush to play it again after finishing it just once, but what MercurySteam have provided here is a solid game – one that easily surpasses the original it’s based on, yet still respects the vision of the creators who built it. It’s so exciting to say this, but Metroid is well and truly back and hopefully here to stay.

Skies of Fury DX is a tidy little shooter that's a ton of fun, just remember to spread it out a little or it can get repetitive. The game has been brought over from mobile, updated and adapted to live on the Switch with fun multiplayer and co-op modes. There's a ton of fun to be had with Skies of Fury DX.

If you love animals and especially cats then I recommend Cattails. If you enjoy games like Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley but want a more relaxed pace then you should also get Cattails. It’s not going to be for everyone, but this is one endearing and adorable game about being a Cat making a life for itself in the great outdoors.

It's great that a wider audience now has the opportunity to play Live A Live, with the added bonus of getting the HD-2D upgrade in the process. Its novel anthology presentation won't be for everyone, thankfully, an added map/radar reduces some old-school frustrations. SquareEnix made the right move breathing new life into Live A Live.

FIFA 19 brilliantly serves new players and the hardcore returning players. While missing The Journey story mode from other platforms, FIFA 19’s improvements prove EA’s commitment to the Nintendo Switch in the form of the console’s best sports game yet.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers three-quarters of a great Metroid Prime game. It captures so much of what makes the series so fondly remembered by fans. I would hate for people to miss the opportunity to experience it, but it's a shame that some parts don't feel like they respect the player's time. For all my grumblings, I was still on board for most of this intergalactic adventure, though some late-game obstacles bring you to the finish line with a little less of a smile. Beyond gives the world more Metroid Prime, for better and for worse, but there is still plenty here that makes the journey worthwhile.

Golf Peaks is a great little experience for a couple of hours, think of it as like a movie or book you read, enjoy and maybe pick up another time in the future. Once you've nailed the mechanics of the game (which they introduce so well), you'll breeze through the game in no time at all. A great chill out game.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a worthwhile upgrade to the base game, bringing with it things that fans have wanted for a very long time — but it also leaves some of the game’s more frustrating quirks intact, in a way that feels a little bit like a missed opportunity. It’s still a fantastic game, but it’s hard not to feel like too much was left on the table when addressing the game’s flaws.

Sushi Striker offers surprising depth for a puzzle game that almost anyone could enjoy, as well as a substantial single player story with some great twists and turns. Despite some niggles with the game’s various control schemes, the core gameplay is fun, frenetic and fast-paced. Make no mistakes, Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido is one of the most well put together puzzle games on the Switch.

Cult of the Lamb works because it weaves two halves into a complimentary collection. This creates a comforting and meaningful flow between all-out action and cerebral stock management.

Little Kitty Big City isn't just a game for fans of cats; anyone can enjoy it over the few hours it lasts. Returning to find all the items in the game will also net a couple more hours. Knowing that the game is still an adorably fun time and, despite some rough edges, exploring the big city as a little kitty is certainly a fun time.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime may be procedurally generated but what it lacks in well-designed locales it more than makes up for with well thought out combat and exploration mechanics. Whether you’re playing by yourself or with a group of people, you’re bound to enjoy the hectic and fast-paced scenarios that Lovers has to offer. Just know that there’s definitely more fun to be had with a group than playing solo.

Despite its flaws in some aspects, Lienzo's passion shines through in every aspect of Mulaka. It's far from perfect, and not everybody will be able to look past those flaws, but those who can will find a diamond in the rough.

The Bridge is a solid puzzle game that encourages you to look at the world from a new perspective. Though the game was easily completed in a couple of sittings, the difficulty increase and length felt right. A sequel would be welcome.

Pocket Rumble is a fun fighting game that has easy to learn controls, but can be hard to master for someone not familiar with fighting games. The visuals are top notch with a fun roster and as a whole, feels like it's straight from a retro console, yet made for current gen.

Detective Pikachu Returns is a lovely, charming sequel to the 3DS game, unfortunately let down by inexplicable graphical shortcomings. Where the first game was one of the best-looking games on its platform, Returns ends up looking rushed and unfinished for a significant amount of the game’s 15-hour runtime. If you can overlook a total lack of lighting, the core game in Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming experience that gives the best sense of how Pokémon exist alongside humans in Pokémon’s history. It’s not difficult or challenging, but it is fun, and sometimes that’s close enough.

As far as remasters of 18-year-old games go, it's hard to conjure up an example of a game that does it better than Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster. It was clearly an excellent game back in its day, and it remains so today, with crisp new assets, new voice acting, and a swathe of handy new features to smooth over the bumps of an aging experience. It can be repetitive and frustrating at times, and Sega's DLC offerings can leave a bit of a sour taste in your mouth, but if you're looking for a classic RPG to play, a place to jump into the SMT series, or just a chance to relive your childhood, it's hard to go wrong here. It's not a game you'll want to miss out on.

Part of the charm of Puyo Puyo is the characters, and when you combine that with the personification of the Tetraminoes there is a lot to enjoy here. The Adventure mode is full of quirky and silly interactions with characters Puyo fans will be familiar with, along with any fondness for the characters PPT introduced. The new Skill Battle mode might not set the world on fire, but if you want more out of the game you could spend some time levelling up a team. On top of that, the game is just really fun to play, especially if you can join friends either in person or online. There is also more free content to be added into the game post-launch to look forward to as well! Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a welcome return when the world can do with an enjoyable game to see out 2020.

Save me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition takes most of the issues of the original game and fixes them up. This edition is all the better for it; hearts mode makes the game more accessible by being less punishing in general. Mr Tako will make you nostalgic for your old GameBoy games, but it's also a pretty good game on its own.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered remains a thrilling arcade racer even a decade on from its debut. The minute to minute excitement of playing cat and mouse with cops and racers is still an entertaining concept, and Criterion is the master of this type of white-knuckle racing. It is admittedly relatively basic as far as remasters are concerned, and there’s not that much here for those who have seen it all before, but those who have yet to drive these streets are in for a good time.

Loop Hero is one of the best indie games of the year, and it feels great to play on the Switch. While the controls can take some getting used to, the gameplay is engrossing enough that the learning curve is worthwhile, and somewhat reflects the deep-dive nature of the experience itself.

Whether you’ve been waiting for a great follow up to the original for a decade like me, totally new to the tactical RPG genre or looking for something new after whetting your appetite with Mario + Rabbids, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is totally worth a look.

The Voxel Agents have made a really touching game with The Gardens Between. Without any words you get a glimpse into a childhood friendship that may hit close to home, remembering friendships from your own childhood. If the narrative doesn’t interest you so much, there just so happens to be a fun puzzle game that allows you to mess with time in a non-catastrophic way.

SnowRunner will appeal to fans of truck simulators and running cargo. It is a series that has found a niche as an all-terrain simulator and serves it well. Hauling cargo through the snow-covered wilderness requires patience and will cause frustration, but it's all part of the experience and makes a successful run all the sweeter. Unfortunately, some issues are keeping it from being great. Still, SnowRunner is a solid experience on the Switch, especially when the last year has kept many of us from being outside, tearing up the landscape in massive vehicles.

Light Fall is a good game, it offers up a lot for speed runners, including a time trial mode, however the main quest is too short. While the game is quite challenging, with the last section proving to be the most difficult, you will fail a lot, but with the fast respawn time and precision platforming needed, it’s a challenge that I enjoyed and if you like a good challenge, you will too.

If you can either appreciate a masochistic final challenge or are happy to simply not worry about it, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is an excellent platformer from a team of veterans showing they can still produce nostalgic experiences that stand up to the best of the modern era. There’s an undeniable charm present throughout thanks to the gorgeous art design and a stellar soundtrack, and the combination of an extensive 3D overworld and tight 2D platforming makes for a thoroughly enjoyable adventure reminiscent of the platforming golden age.

Altogether, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is an awesome little package. Monkey Craft were expertly able to resurrect Klonoa after an extended hiatus with flying colours - a lot of colours in fact. This game is sure to be a hit with long-time fans of the series and young kiddies looking for a bright platformer full of charm. Go Klonoa!

Faeria is as enjoyable as it is deep, offering many hours of solo content, with the option to compete online if you so choose. The combination of board and card game is a lot of fun to play and new cards are unlocked at a fast, exciting pace.

The Borderlands Collection finally brings the series to the Switch without compromise. It plays well and looks even better than I expected, even in handheld. The humour definitely isn’t for everyone, but it’s hard to not be sucked into the world of Pandora. While I won’t hold my breath for a Borderlands 3 port, the rest of the series on the go is a more than reasonable trade. The collection provides great value, while the price is a little high, there is easily over 100+ hours of content. If you’ve sunk many hours into the series in the past now there is a way to play it anywhere. If you’re a newcomer it’s about time you made the trip to Pandora.

Pinball machines will always have a place in my heart, and until I can afford one for real, this is the next best thing. That being said, because it's digital Pinball FX 3 does some things that no real pinball machine could ever do. It can pit you against your friends, have multiple game modes on one table, and let you see where you stack up against others all over of the world — not just on that one machine.

Mario Tennis Aces has brought Mario sports titles back up to where they belong. The single player isn't the second coming of the RPG modes from the Game Boy titles like we had hoped but that's not the full story here. Aces has a complex and fun Tennis system with mechanics more like a fighting game than a sport one. There's tons of content here and more than enough to keep you going for months. Smashing.

If you’re looking for a neat little game that does a lot with the little it gives you to work with, Minit is a fun fast paced game. If you love old school top down adventures looking like they were made for the Gameboy, then this could be for you. In a world where games can take so many hours, it’s nice to have a short and sweet game like Minit that is fun to play.

Although never innovative, Darksiders is a rare example of a game that borrows heavily from other franchises and still possesses its own identity. Worth playing for the brilliantly bloodletting combat alone, Darksiders: Warmastered Edition is a more than capable version for Wii U owners to experience their own affordable apocalyptic adventure.

While there are a thousand or so indie games on the Switch already. It’s hard to look past The Messenger as a game that should be in everyone’s home menu. The gameplay is very responsive, and the game is a lot of fun as well. However, the lack of a challenge may be something that would turn platforming fans away from the game. Then, on the other hand, the dialogue is very witty, and it is worth reading every text box that pops up. There is definite room for improvement for a possible sequel, but The Messenger is definitely worth checking out.

Monster Hunter Stories is a great new addition to the monster-collection genre, boasting unique mechanics and a beautiful world filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful monsters. In spite of the shifts in genre and art style Stories manages to feel and play like a Monster Hunter game, allowing it to serve as a breath of fresh air for series veterans and a nice transition into the main games for those new to the series.

Shadow Bug all combines for an accomplished package that feels right at home on the Switch, as the short levels are perfect for sneaking in a quick gaming session. It’s a sensory delight, and the unique movement system results in a fresh take on a familiar genre. Shadow Bug is well worth a look.

If you love musicals, you’ll still absolutely adore what has been created here, and I’ll certainly be going back for at least one more playthrough to pursue some different paths. But from the premise, I wanted to absolutely adore this game, and in the end, I just really liked it.

Persona 4 Golden has always been one of the most solid games in the Persona series, and the Switch port is no exception. It’s a lovely story bolstered by a fantastic combat system, and it’s worth playing for newcomers and veterans alike.

Jackbox Party Pack 5 is another solid entry in the series. Zeeple Dome is an unfortunate experiment that doesn’t quite work, but the strength of the rest of the set more than makes up for it. Patently Stupid alone is worth the price of admission, but you’ll find plenty more to love in this pack that will have you bringing this one out with friends for months to come. With clever ideas, top-notch presentation and plenty of laughs, it’s an easy crowd pleaser to recommend. Don’t miss this one.

Final Fantasy IX is not the more serious-looking futuristic Final Fantasy like the two games before it. Instead, it is a lovely fantasy world which can be just as serious and deep, and more importantly, enjoyable. The addition of ‘boosters’ help make the game playable for those who don’t want to endlessly grind for experience and just want to enjoy the journey. This port isn’t without its problems, fortunately outside of the annoying load times into battle the rest are minor issues. For Final Fantasy fans, the port does more right than it does wrong. If you haven’t played FF IX yet, love a good turn based RPG and don’t mind older games, then there is no better place to play it than on the Switch.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are bordering on a masterclass of how to do faithful remakes of a classic and beloved series. They're nostalgic, charming, lovely experiences that perfectly mix the old with the new to present a journey that will appeal to fans of the originals while still keeping things fresh and up-to-date. As one half of a pair of Sinnoh games, they deliver on their half in spades, and show that The Pokémon Company is ready, willing, and able to mess with the formula for the sake of the series. I have my complaints here and there, too, but overall, these are the Diamond and Pearl remakes that I didn't know I wanted until I fell in love with them.

Ape Out is great fun and really engaging experience for people who enjoy arcade-like action. And for the music-lovers out there, this game’s (in)direct control of the soundtrack gives all of the on-screen action feedback but can’t really be experienced anywhere else. It’s a shame that Ape Out is so short and returning to replay the game doesn’t present any new experiences/rewards, but for the 1.5-2 hour duration, you’re in for a real smash.

Side Order is an entertaining change to the more typical Splatoon style, encouraging different ways to play and to embrace variety. Hardcore Splatoon players will likely still make mincemeat (or is that chum) of the Spire. It will offer a tougher challenge for more general players, and to see the game properly through you’ll be making a bunch of attempts at the Spire. If you want more Splatoon in your life then you either have this or should get the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass, especially if you want something more outside of the online/multiplayer side of the game.

If you’re looking for more of the Mana series with better combat and extra story beyond the original, then Trials of Mana is definitely for you (if you didn’t already get it day one!). For everyone else, this is a neat remake and is the best the series has looked and sounded and is fun to play.

It's great that all of the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid games can be repurchased, all in the same place. The Switch is a perfectly fine play to play them, but you'll be playing Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater at 30FPS, unlike the original releases and on the other consoles. The world of Metal Gear Solid isn't for everyone, with a lot of highfalutin prose to get through, but you can now at least give it a go and see if it hooks you in.

Arms is another polished Nintendo title and a welcome addition to the Switch library. The characters that have been created and the world that they live in is terrific it's just a shame we don't get to explore it more. Despite having more levels, characters and weapons to unlock and play with the game seems to feel smaller than Splatoon did at launch even though I know it's not. Luckily for Arms the rest of the game is perfectly crafted, the online and local modes are a real blast, are easy to setup and the fighting mechanics are easy to pick up but hard to master. Nintendo has another franchise on its hand if it continues to add to the game as promised, Arms is a real blast.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are bordering on a masterclass of how to do faithful remakes of a classic and beloved series. They're nostalgic, charming, lovely experiences that perfectly mix the old with the new to present a journey that will appeal to fans of the originals while still keeping things fresh and up-to-date. As one half of a pair of Sinnoh games, they deliver on their half in spades, and show that The Pokémon Company is ready, willing, and able to mess with the formula for the sake of the series. I have my complaints here and there, too, but overall, these are the Diamond and Pearl remakes that I didn't know I wanted until I fell in love with them.

BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! is a satisfying puzzle adventure with plenty of challenging levels to keep you coming back. The variety of power-ups and unique hazards result in a game that stays fresh across the course of its three main modes. The addition of co-op is extremely welcome, and the tricky bonus objectives highlight the smart puzzle design on offer. If you enjoy pick up and play puzzle games, this is a great addition to your Switch library.

Overall I loved Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian. As a first time player I was so impressed and enjoyed my time with Risa, Slade, and all the friends they made along the way. Whether you enjoy combat, crafting, exploration or story-focused games, Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian has something for you. You’ll be intrigued by the mystery of the town's destruction and all those who come together to save it, repair it, or destroy it, while an incredible soundtrack and beautiful visuals help immerse you in the rich world The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian has to offer.

Doom 64 is a different experience, it's still Doom, but it's like your favourite movie got directed by someone else and had to make everything from scratch again. While still fun all these years later, it's still a bit of-its-times, but that's part of the charm. It's Doom, done just a little bit different.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is one of the most faithful remakes I’ve ever played, for better and for worse. If, like me, you’ve played a version of this wonderful game recently, it might not be worth spending the cash on a new version that is functionally almost identical and left me wanting more. If you’ve never played DQ3 before, though, there’s no doubt that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is the best way to play one of the most iconic games in the series’ history.