There’s a lot of pinball games on the Switch eShop at the moment, and a lot of them aren’t great. Star Wars Pinball is not one of these games, it's yet again Zen Studios flexing its Pinball prowess and giving Star Wars fans an amazing array of tables to play, no matter what era of Star Wars you love. You could piece together all the Star Wars tables on other platforms, but then you’d be missing out the game's really fun career mode and Force Powers. The force is strong with this one.

Creature in the Well is a pleasant change to the usual dungeon crawler formula. While it can be punishing at times, its challenges can be overcome. If you enjoy Pinball, Breakout, Tennis or even games like Windjammers and would like to try a different spin on them, Creature in the Well is for you. There are at least five hours of fun genre mash-up here, that happens to have a really nice art style too. I’d love to see more like this from developer Flight School Studio in the future.

Whether you grew up with these games or not, Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a loveable reminder of games from a different era, and you’ll likely be grinning the whole time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Astral Chain is up there with Platinum’s best games. Once jumping into the story I wanted to keep playing, looking forward to seeing where it would go next. For everything I’ve written here, there’s still so much I feel I’ve left out. While it’s a long wait for Bayonetta 3, Astral Chain is an outstanding game on its own. If you’re a fan of action games or sci-fi anime, Astral Chain is a must buy.

FAR: Lone Sails is one of those special games that does so much with the small amount of time it asks for. Completing it in one or two sittings feels entirely achievable, and has just enough depth to its gameplay to feel engaging without being bothersome. The experience it delivers is a wholesome jaunt through the end of the world that put a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.

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.

A co-operative, almost looter shooter with RPG elements sounds good in theory, but it's not Wolfenstein. Then again this isn't meant to be just another game in the series. So the developers should be applauded for trying it, even if it's not perfect and perhaps it's just not my cup of tea.

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.

Despite its flaws, Solo: Islands of the Heart is an interesting experiment which weaves its puzzler gameplay and mature themes together well. Some design choices and technical issues hold the game back from being truly remarkable, but going in with an open mind and allowing myself some vulnerability delivered an emotional trip I hadn’t quite experienced from a game before.

It all makes for a packed and enjoyable experience with plenty to offer for fans for Marvel and classic beat-em-ups. The roster of characters is vast and excellently portrayed, the story is fun and the moment to moment combat remains enjoyable throughout. Some uninspired level design, camera quirks and unfortunate design choices around character levelling keeps it from the upper echelons of the Switch library but grab a couple of friends and it’s hard not to have a seriously good time with this one regardless of your level of affinity for the world of Marvel.

Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity is a fun game to play. The fast maneuvering as you narrowly avoid before crashing into a rock so hard your skeleton leaves your body, only to forever hurtle through space. Backed up with some great music, it feels like you’re on a great space journey. Minor issues aside, if you have a few hours to kill and a few bucks to spend Lost Orbit is a decent way to spend both.

Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo have come together to create an absolute masterpiece of a strategy game. RPG elements have been seamlessly integrated into the Fire Emblem series and all the additional activities that can be partaken in just add more to the characters in this world. The main draw for the Fire Emblem series, the combat, is the best it has ever been. It has its minor issues, but what game doesn’t? I can’t recommend Fire Emblem: Three Houses enough, it is one of those titles that we will still be discussing in a decade’s time.

Red Faction: Guerilla is a curious game to remaster, besides THQ making the most of rereleasing their catalogue. There’s a lot of destructive fun to be had, but it’s often lost amongst boring driving and frustrating combat. If you still have a soft spot for Red Faction then this is very much the same game, warts and all.

If you're a fan of horror, willing to accept some gameplay elements left behind by modern games and somehow haven't played any of the previous versions of Resident Evil, you really owe it to yourself to give this a try.

Overall, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is just a damn nice game to play. There are loads of small improvements here that really add up, and the game has a lovely atmosphere. If you were ever curious about the original and didn’t play it, I would recommend skipping straight to Builders 2 and diving in as soon as you can. Happy building!

Gato feels like a Metroid mini, not in a diminishing way either. At a tight 3-4 hours, you can see and pick up everything. Over that time you’ll have played a tightly-honed game that uses gated progression to steer you around a reasonably linear path. This isn’t a bad thing either, it’s Metroid boiled and condensed down to its essence. It adds just enough of its own personality that you want to uncover the mysteries of the facility as they unfold throughout the game.

Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every BUDDY! Is a bit of an interesting spectacle. It’s a remaster that nobody asked for, in a series that’s largely been forgotten, in a genre that doesn’t really get much attention. In a way, it’s almost worth playing for that spectacle alone. But spectacle aside, there’s a lot to love, and the game is filled with charm and adorable, fictional bird moments. Sure, it gets a little repetitive, and the difficulty curve is steep, but it’s got a solid foundation, and if you can push through the grindier elements, there’s a lot of fun to be had.

As a fan of the Wonder Boy series growing up, I can’t recommend it enough to others in a similar position. For newcomers, it’s harder to recommend, but at least watch a couple of the trailers for the game to see if it looks up your alley first.

Super Mario Maker 2 is a much needed and long awaited addition to the Switch. Even the smaller additions to course making goes a long way to giving players the tools they need to make courses that you wouldn’t be able to distinguish from the real deal. If you’re not interested in building levels, there’s plenty to play in the story mode and the content from the Course World will ensure there’s content for years to come. While there are some limitations that might irk hardcore course builders, there is so much more to like about the game. How can you pass up a Mario game that has the most inventive courses the series has seen in years.

It’s always going to be a tough ask going up against the near-perfect Mario Kart 8, but Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is an excellent kart racing alternative for those looking for something different. It looks great, packs plenty of great content and offers and quality kart racing experience. There’s certainly a learning curve, and some cheap AI and painful loading times can be frustrating, but there’s a lot of fun to be had here regardless of whether you have nostalgic memories for the 90s original or not.

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.

Nintendo’s bold gambit of trusting one of their most precious franchises with Brace Yourself Games has paid off in creating an essential Switch experience. Cadence of Hyrule is a wonderful musical adventure, giving The Legend of Zelda series a delightfully fresh perspective. Also, if you didn’t already know Danny Baranowsky, you do now. It’s a bloody good time to be a Zelda fan.

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.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes is an overwhelmingly mediocre game from a gameplay or narrative perspective. It’s not bad, but it’s quite boring and shallow. There’s probably more here for avid fans of the series than there is for someone looking for an interesting game or a challenging strategy experience.

I’m sure that the game will receive updates over time, and it could possibly be a good game eventually. That will require a lot of work however, and the fact that the game released in the state that it did is mortifying. The game costs almost double of Minecraft and doesn’t contain half the fun. I’m not sure why the game exists outside of the idea that maybe some fans of Ark: Survival Evolved may also enjoy this for some reason. When the Switch gets almost 30 games every week, it’s easy to recommend that you open up the Recent tab on the eShop, pick a number between 1 and 10, and chance are you’ll find something better than PixARK.

Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered is a tricky one. The term ‘remastered’ feels a little disingenuous compared to the other consoles. Yet at the same time, the game at least in handheld runs as well as it did on last gen consoles. If you want to play Assassin’s Creed how it used to be on a handheld, you can’t go wrong with AC3, as long as you can accept it as it was a generation ago. If you didn’t like AC3 the first time then this time around likely won’t change your mind. If you haven’t played the earlier entries in the series, this would be the weirdest place to start.

Final Fantasy XII is a solid entry in the main series that has definitely been improved by updates made with the remaster. Elements of the game that were quite a shake-up at the time stand out much less given where the series has gone over the last decade. If you missed it the first time, this is the best version I could recommend thanks to the portability and all of the most up to date additions and improvements. More importantly, the game is fun. After countless hours of turn-based battles, it was a pleasant change. If you missed it the first time, it’s time to fix that mistake and grab Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age.

Team Sonic Racing is a great kart racer in it's own right, but one I don't see myself coming back to after the credits finish rolling.

Despite a few streaky edges through slips along the way, cricket fans will appreciate Cricket 19's dedication to the sport's idiosyncrasies without a trading card pack in sight - a rarity for sports games. With the World Cup on now, and the Ashes series coming soon, playing Cricket 19 in handheld with the real deal on the big screen is a tantalising prospect.

If you like music games and want a good challenge, I highly recommend Vectronom. A snappy soundtrack that bleeds into the gameplay incredibly well, simple controls and aesthetic, and plenty of goals to chase, it's an interesting and unique snapshot of a modern rhythm game.

To summarise the contents of the DLC together, there are two new characters with their own skills, two text-based adventures, some shirts and one quick level. For those that purchased the game physically, this DLC is an included bonus. The eShop version isn’t as generous, so I would leave it up to you if you believe the $15 asking price is worth it to you or not.

To summarise the contents of the DLC together, there are two new characters with their own skills, two text-based adventures, some shirts and one quick level. For those that purchased the game physically, this DLC is an included bonus. The eShop version isn’t as generous, so I would leave it up to you if you believe the $15 asking price is worth it to you or not.

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.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is a middle-of-the-road game with one top-class element. Too many times the game takes you away from what makes it great, and into the mediocrity of its unsatisfying stealth and close-range combat sections.

Akane isn’t a game that’s looking to take you on an epic story of revenge. It’s one very specific thing and that’s a single arena score attack game within a futuristic cyberpunk future. It’s fun enough while it lasts and some will enjoy it way longer than others, depending on how much you enjoy the gameplay loop. It might not be a long game overflowing with content but it is a fun arcade style game that comes are a suitable price. There’s no shortage of bad games out cheap on the eShop, but Akane isn’t one of them.

It’s all well and good to have a solid, proven design, and some interesting ideas for plot, aesthetic and gameplay, but when you’re slapped at every turn by slippery controls and difficult visuals it makes things very, very frustrating. Dying repeatedly doing tedious single jumps in not-particularly-challenging levels sure Wrecked my Giga. I don’t think it’s impossible to have fun here, but I’d recommend seeking out a better Alt-ernative.

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.

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.

Get this one for Colour Picross - it's great fun and worth a bash if Picross is your thing at all. If you're new, get this for the great amount of content. It'll keep you busy for 30+ hours and it's only $15! No-one's going to judge if you skip Mega Picross though.

There are some really hard-hitting and beautiful moments in this game, as well as a lot of funny ones, and the more I learned about Jill the more I liked her. The world and all of the characters of VA-11 HALL-A are so damn interesting, and I found myself eager to return to the game after every play session. If you’re a fan of visual novels, this is a must play.

Cook Serve Delicious 2 is the kind of food management the Switch could do with more of. It’s also a game perfectly suited for the Switch’s portability over the other versions. While there are other popular cooking games like Overcooked it is very different from CSD. CSD2 is the raging fire, containing a heap of dishes including previous free DLC updates that increased the size of the menu even more.

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.

Scolding myself for buying a game like Smashing the Battle will do nothing to smash the patriarchy and, to be honest, I actually enjoyed it in part. I mean, I played through 62 levels, read some poorly-formatted text, and forgot about the world for a few short hours. It may have produced more remorse than stimulation and there’s a strong sense of repetition across the entire package, but Smashing the Battle certainly is a video game about robots, armour and the absence of both.

For those who can look past its quirks, it will be an unforgettable experience. It wears its heart on its sleeve with all the care put into its combat and world landmarks, and with all the unique things it tries. Even some of its flaws can be endearing, like the NPC sound bites that have become memes amongst the fanbase. It’s an experience that has never been replicated since and I can only hope that the team can finally work on a follow-up after all this time.

It’s great to see developers like Image & Form Games doing different things with their always-interesting SteamWorld franchise. Both the Dig and Heist games worked very well for their genres, and SteamWorld Quest works for card games. There is a decent card game here and the fantasy setting is charming, but it is a shame when not all of the game is as fun to experience. At the end of the day it’s still a solidly-made game and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of their neat robot designs.

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.

Cuphead is a truly special game. An Xbox exclusive being released on the Switch. The announcement on the Nindies Showcase was an important one that received a lot of attention and fanfare. Luckily, Cuphead is a game that can back up the importance and expectations that have been thrust upon it. There doesn’t feel like any technical downgrades on its transition to Switch. Cuphead is a difficult, yet beautiful game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet encourages a sense of learning from the player.

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.

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.

Overwhelm, to me, is one of those small, must-play games that does so much with very little. I’m surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed the game, and hope more people will give themselves the opportunity to play it. The game isn’t long - with unlimited lives and ammo switched on, it can be beat in under an hour - but replayability with default settings and new game+ will keep hardcore players busy. Overwhelm is one of those small, hidden gems that I’m really hoping won’t be so hidden after all.

Ultimately, despite its flaws as a remaster, Ace Attorney Trilogy is still the same set of phenomenal games it has ever been. Even after all this time, it’s easy to see how these games have influenced so many people so deeply. Newcomers will definitely feel frustration at some of the ways these titles have aged, but will surely exit with just as much of a full and rich experience as those who played them over a decade ago.

Football Manager 2019 Touch fills a very specific niche, and I fully recognise that I’m not the target audience. That said, football superfans and management sim aficionados will no doubt find a lot to sink their teeth — and time — into. It doesn’t look perhaps as good as it could, and the user experience leaves a lot to be desired, but deep down, there’s something compelling here, even if it’s not for everybody.

While there were some very tense moments, and a few too many Try Again screens with too much swearing from myself, Mechstermination Force is fun. Boss battle games like this aren’t usually my kind of game, but with the Contra style run and gun style gameplay and inventive battles I was won over. If you like a challenge there’s plenty here to knock you around as you learn more each time. There’s easily a few hours in saving the world and for a good price too. It’s not without its flaws, but it doesn’t matter so much when it’s as fun as it is along the way.

I had a blast with AngerForce: Reloaded… until I realised that to finish the game I’ll need to spend a lot of my time grind missions over and over to get anywhere. I felt like 5-20 minute play sessions at a time were enough to rack up points, buy a power-up or two and then tap out for a while. Which is perfect for playing on the go - provided you can make the most of that vertical perspective.

Unravel Two is a sheer delight. You can feel the love and care that went into crafting every fibre of this heart-warming adventure, and the emotional bond between the Yarnys resonates every step of the way. With a stunning range of sights to see, a beautiful soundtrack and a meticulous blend of challenging yet accessible puzzles, you can’t help but fall in love with this game. This is still worth your time if you’re playing solo, but if you have a co-op companion to join you, this game should be an essential part of your Switch library. Don’t miss it.

Yoshi’s Crafty World is a game overflowing with charm. While it feels very much like another game in the Yoshi’s Island series, it makes enough changes here and there to freshen it up. Nintendo has made another fun and charming platformer that is just as fun for all ages, as it melts even the coldest hearts. Between Wooly and Crafty Yoshi’s, I look forward to seeing what they can do with the series next.

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.

For someone else, The Stillness of the Wind might be a lovely parable about the challenges of living out your final days after everyone else has moved on. Too few mediums highlight the experiences of the elderly, so this game deserves praise for going where few others go. Unfortunately, I found it to be a plodding and meandering affair due to its excessively slow pacing and frustratingly vague instructions, among a struggling frame rate on Switch.

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.

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.

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.

All the charm from the movie has been stripped out and all that’s left is a bland ‘minecraft’ inspired open world game that happens to have characters from the movie. If you enjoyed kicking around in Lego Worlds there’s more of that here, especially for those with kids who might enjoy anything Lego. If you’re after the usual fun Lego game take on the movie prepare yourself to lower expectations dramatically.

If someone told me that I would someday enjoy the frantic experiences of a twin-stick shooter, I’d have told them they were bonkers... yet here we are! It’s got well-designed characters with unique personalities and skill sets, as well as a tough yet fair difficulty curve. Being able to play with a single-stick is a fantastic edition for the Switch version, and while it’s a pain when big enemies are around, it really does work. If only the game came out a couple of months ago, I would have voted for it in our recent top 19 Switch games list.

Those craving a challenging platformer are still better off getting their fix from Mario or Donkey Kong in spite of the new Devilish Mode, but those looking to unwind, collect and explore a creative and imaginative world will find a journey worth taking with your 3DS at least one last time.

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.

If potty-mouth platforming is your jam, then you’ll probably have an enjoyable time with Rad Rodgers - if you can overlook the untuned graphics. But for me, the games spends too much time trying to party like Poochie instead of delivering a coherent experience.

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.

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.

Almost There is perhaps the most aptly-named game in recent memory. I love platformers more than most other genres, and have spent my whole gaming life jumping across 2D plains. But this game just doesn’t meet the expectations set by others, nor does it have enough depth (in content or control) to give it any legs. Instead it leaps toward a completely different direction, but doesn’t stick the landing.

If you want something short with a little kick of humour, then Cinders is probably right up your alley. It’s nice, but not much more than that.

While Torna’s story unfortunately turned out to be a huge let down, the gameplay does more than enough to pick up the pieces. Ultimately, exploring the world of Alrest is still a delight, and any excuse to re-enter this gorgeous universe is one worth taking.

Planetarian won’t be for everybody, but don’t mistake it for just another story of dating waifus or shock horror. planetarian is here for those who crave a good read, a short story with a tremendous amount of heart and sincerity that will leave you with something to ponder for years to come. It’s as heartwarming as it is heartrending, and it’s bound to leave even the most hardened readers shedding tears by the end.

Tetris 99 is pretty much what-you-see-is-what-you-get, and I think that’s what makes it work so well. There’s no need for complex battle systems or extra modes; no one asked for this game, but here it is at no extra cost, so it manages expectations well by giving just one, solid game mode. You really have nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting into Tetris 99.

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.

If you have the patience and desire to fail often and learn from your mistakes, Downwell is well worth falling into.

Pikuniku is a strange little game. It’s unique, hilarious, and extremely fun, but it shines most when it’s played with a friend. It’s a little on the short side, and some of the campaign’s level design is basic at best, but there’s no shortage of charm on display, and it’s hard not to walk away with a smile on your face.

Wargroove has given us the closest thing we’re going to get to a new Advance Wars. Nintendo could’ve brought the developer onboard and branded this as an Advance Wars spin-off and made long-suffering fans very happy. I am very happy what we got with Wargroove, if anything I want more of the characters and that gameplay. Who knows, maybe through the campaign creator there’ll be even more stories shared through the community that do the proper story justice.

Bowser’s Inside Story is a colourful, innovative and witty RPG adventure with a thoroughly engaging combat system; one of the best Nintendo DS games is now one of the best Nintendo 3DS games. Bowser Jr.’s Journey is a welcome - if light - addition to the package. However, most importantly, the main game remains the ultimate Mario & Luigi experience for many more reasons than introducing us to Bowser’s love of fried chicken and cheese.

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.

Fitness Boxing has an admirable goal like Wii Fit before it; to help you get fit. While it isn’t a replacement for full exercising or getting down to the gym, Fitness Boxing will make you sweat to reach your daily goals, and the motion controls demand you make an effort to punch your calories away. The amount of content available is limited, and the amount of songs on offer to box to is a letdown. If you’re looking for a 20-60 minute game workout you can do at home then Fitness Boxing is more than capable, it’s just a shame it’s not more appropriately priced.

If you have a love for punishing old school platformers that provide no handholding and really test your endurance, there may be something here. For those of us who aren’t gluttons for punishment though, you’ll likely find this adventure too archaic for its own good. There’s no shortage of excellent side-scrolling adventures on the Switch that pay homage to the great games of old whilst providing a modern twist, but unfortunately, Battle Princess Madelyn leans too hard on design choices that were perhaps best left in the past.

At the end of the day, traditional JRPG fans will get a kick out of this quirky mobile adventure, especially if you’ve been itching for something since Xenoblade 2. Similarly if you are a Tales fanatic, all of the DLC bits and bobs are included in the package. But if you are expecting something out of the norm, this probably isn’t the game for you.

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.

Horizon Chase Turbo’s modern take on the arcade Outrun racer is a fast and fun colour-drenched experience barely diminished by a few crashes along the way.

Although not the deepest shooter you’ll encounter, Screencheat‘s terrific point of difference makes for a hilarious couch multiplayer game overflowing with more memes than you could poke an invisible stick at.

Despite a cool concept on paper, Double Cross spreads itself too thin trying in vain to emulate the platforming action of Mega Man and the investigative intrigue of Phoenix Wright to do anything original. Instead, Double Cross is a derivative, flat game with tepid combat and very little actual investigating to do.

If you’ve played New Super Mario Bros U at all before, there’s not a whole lot of reasons to go back. It’s still terrific 2D Mario title, and it’s aged gracefully, with only the slightest of nips and tucks along the way. Just don’t go in expecting anything more than what you got in 2012. On the other side of the coin, if you’ve never played it before - you’re in for a treat. It’s a more accessible Mario if you need it to be, and if not, the difficulty is still there if you’re a longtime fan. Still, a new, New Super Mario Bros. after all this time would have been nicer.

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 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.

ARK: Survival Evolved is hard to recommend on two fronts. The Switch Version is an ugly technical mess, and if it does run well the game happens to be unwelcoming and an unfun grind to obtain the actual draw cards to the game. As a big Dinosaur fan, both issues disappoint me so much. True it would be awesome to ride Dinosaurs around and taming them, but not on this console. If this warning isn’t enough at the very least check out the mobile version (which looks better and has a better interface) and see if the game is for you. At the end of the day, ARK is playable, parts of it are even fun, but all the game and technical issues drag this behemoth-sized game back down into the tar pits.

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.

I have to be honest and say I was disappointed with Hover. It feels like the game is fighting against you in most places when it gives off the feel of being about freedom of expression and movement. I really hope it can be built upon because the passion for the project can definitely be felt through a lot of the game, but the cohesion of all the parts just doesn’t work as well as it could.

Yo-kai Watch Blasters was very disappointing for me as a Yo-kai Watch fan because it just doesn’t carry the charm of the mainline games. It’s dull to play and that signature wit and wholesomeness was missing from the writing. While there’s plenty to do in the game, even after you’ve completed the story, it didn’t keep my attention long enough to see it all through. It might be worth checking out if you’re desperate to play something with friends, but otherwise you can treat this one like the yo-kai Dimmy and ignore it completely.

Yo-kai Watch Blasters was very disappointing for me as a Yo-kai Watch fan because it just doesn’t carry the charm of the mainline games. It’s dull to play and that signature wit and wholesomeness was missing from the writing. While there’s plenty to do in the game, even after you’ve completed the story, it didn’t keep my attention long enough to see it all through. It might be worth checking out if you’re desperate to play something with friends, but otherwise you can treat this one like the yo-kai Dimmy and ignore it completely.