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.

We’re at that point with sports games where all the focus goes into the new consoles and every year out is one step closer to ‘legacy’ editions. 2K22 isn’t there yet, but it’s not far off. If you want to play basketball, it’s still solid this year, at the very least. If you want to check out the open-world online cruise ship that still thirsts for your money, hop on board.

A fun puzzler that feels right at home on the Switch. Some frustrating levels can pop up a little too often, but it’s a good option for a quick gaming session.

Having variety and diversity in games is important, and honestly – with this series still running so long, there’s definitely something there that’s appealing enough to give people a reason to keep buying these games. I just wish I could understand exactly what that ‘something’ is.

Sparkle Unleashed feels quite the opposite of it's name at moments. Having the slinger tethered to the bottom of the screen doesn’t help, but there is still a fun Sparkle game there. If you remember Luxor then this game will bring those memories back, if you want a fast-paced puzzle game or just to clear some more orbs, with all gripes aside, Sparkle Unleashed can get the job done.

Ageless lands in an odd spot. It’s not bad - compelling level design and interesting puzzles keep your attention through its 8-odd hour runtime. Sadly, it just resembles Celeste too much to avoid the dooming question: why don’t you just play that instead? And if you already did - can you forget it enough to enjoy this?

I love the look of Jydge. It’s like The Sims and Blade Runner got together one night and decided it would be a good idea to combine their aesthetics into a joint venture of top-down/isometric and bleak futuristic stylings and then spiced it up with pops of neon. The soundtrack is pretty good too. You could say it’s like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get, until that one track kicks in that is as annoying as coming across a chocolate with a concealed almond inside. Not to worry, there are plenty of chocolates in the box and they are random any time you enter a stage. The music tracks that is, not the chocolates.

While it may seem like a strange decision releasing the original Escapists game after the sequel, there is still plenty of fun to be had here. Some elements such as the crafting made being in virtual prison pretty punishing, but piecing together how you’re going to break out and what you need to do can be enjoyable as you make your way to freedom.

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.

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.

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

Technically difficult to fault, Neon Chrome's sins lie in its bland presentation, reflective of its unsatisfying sense of progression.

At the end of the day, Sonic Colours Ultimate does offer a decent Sonic adventure. Everything you'd expect from a modern Sonic game is here: speeding through different acts, alternate pathways, hidden collectibles, great design, and, yes, unbalanced gameplay and a couple of bugs. If you're a hedgehog diehard, Sonic Colours Ultimate is most definitely worth a look, but if you aren't, then take this one with a blue grain of salt.

Overall it’s an enjoyable twin-stick shooter that scratches that arcade gaming itch. However, if you’ve played other similar games in recent times, there isn’t a whole lot here to make it an essential part of your Switch library.

Despite the issues mentioned here, Cities Skylines on the Switch is still tremendous fun to play no matter if you’re playing it on the TV or in handheld mode. Here’s hoping some of the technical issues can be ironed out as time goes on, but if you can put up with a little jank and don’t have a PC to check it out on, Cities Skylines is still the best city sim out there and now you can play it anywhere.

My Brother Rabbit successfully tells a story about a loved one suffering from a potentially deadly illness. Its subject matter is inherently emotional, and manages to do so without being overly heavy handed. Hidden object and puzzle players will find something familiar with the gameplay. My Brother Rabbit’s story is interesting enough that you should give this a try regardless.

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

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.

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.

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.

I really, *really* enjoyed Miitopia, when I fully expected not to. It’s so self-aware, leading to some fantastic moments in the game. But most of all, it’s an RPG adventure that’s basically tailor made for you. I had a blast exploring Miitopia with my friends, seeing interactions that would never happen in real life, and saving the world from the evil Vook. Even if you think you might not like it, I highly encourage playing the demo. If you enjoyed that, the full game is so much better.

Sonic Superstars isn’t a bad Sonic game; it captures what the fondly remembered games got right in several ways. On the other hand, it seems to have forgotten some of the other things classic Sonic did better. Between the level design and the boss battles, Sonic feels robbed of speed and is weighed down by some genuinely frustrating battles.

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.

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

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

If you’re after something a little bit different, it’s not a bad way to escape for a couple of hours.

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.

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

Fitness Boxing 2 is largely the same as the first title. The only real difference is that there are more trainers to choose from and the soundtrack is different. For owners of the first game, this may not be enough, but the option to transfer your exercise and user data from the first game is available nonetheless. For extended workouts, get a pair of gloves as those Joy-Cons will get super sweaty. It is a hugely accessible title that sets out to fill the Wii Fit void and acts as a nice complement to proper diet and exercise routine.

King Oddball isn’t a bad game, but it does feel misplaced on the Switch as it would any console; the handheld or tablet mode isn’t enough to make it work here. As the Switch library continues to grow at such an exponential rate there are more than enough games to drown out titles like this. At the time of writing King Oddball is currently a little more expensive on the Switch than it is for mobile. But both prices are still quite cheap. If you’re having trouble finding small time wasters to fill your Switch with then there’s worse ways to spend your time than King Oddball, but there’s also many better ones for not much more.

The Switch is the best fit for Oceanhorn too. While it has issues, I just know the groundwork has been laid for a killer sequel and I can’t wait to see what Oceanhorn’s world will look like when we return in the years to come.

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.

In a world where you have boundless choices of fighting games with active communities, I struggle to see the point in Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers.

I'm clearly not anywhere close to the target audience for this oddly Nintendo-published game, but despite that, I really enjoyed my time with it. DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power isn't perfect, with its reptitive missions and slightly over-the-top collectathon tendencies. But if I were a kid, and I was into this show or comics in general, and my parents had bought me a game like this to play, I'd have been absolutely over the moon. Judging it by my own standards wouldn't give a fair representation of what the game really is: a great little experience for the audience it's aimed at.

In its pure essence, Cricket Through the Ages is not a cricket game. You will not find any fielders, ducks, umpires, wickets, tea breaks or rain stoppages. What you will find is a chaotic 2-player game where fun is the number one priority. Cricket Through the Ages is a blast to play, though the enjoyment is short lived once all the modes are unlocked and played through. It is worth a look if you like the kind of game you will boot up once every few months for a quick round or two with a friend.

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.

Overall, Aperion Cyberstorm is a well polished and incredibly fun game. Even if you’re new to twin stick shooters, or have had a bad time with them before, I reckon this is still worth picking up. There’s a variety of modes, control schemes, and tons of content to play either solo or with friends!

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

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.

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.

Ultimately, The Outer Worlds is like a really realistic hole painted on the ground: with a casual approach, you’ll have the experience as it’s meant to be, but get too close and it starts to fall apart a bit. The choice is a little hollow, the visuals blurry. But if you stand back and squint a bit it’s everything it says on the tin, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a bunch of fun playing it.

This Is The Police tries to do something interesting, both in its storytelling and its gameplay, and while it delivers a unique experience, its lack of commitment is ultimately its downfall. That's not to say it does any one thing poorly, but rather it does many things decently and few things well. The gameplay is interesting enough to keep you entertained, but the lack of variety in day-to-day missions becomes tedious quickly. The only aspect of the game that truly stands out is its ability to make you feel something. Sometimes that's enough to overlook the shortcomings of a game, but this is not one of those cases.

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.

The whole package is one that boasts a terrific core set of mechanics but stumbles in its ability to highlight them. A limited range of modes, a frustratingly slow unlock path for its roster and some odd difficulty gating in the campaign form an unavoidable weight around the neck of an otherwise charming experience. For $30 AUD it’s a steep asking price, especially when Super Smash Bros Ultimate is sitting right there, but fans of Nintendo’s morphing pink blob may get a kick out of this attempted impersonation.

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

The occasional bug can take away from some of the enjoyment, but for the majority of the time, you’ll get a fun Lego game and a good excuse to spend some time with the Parr family being Super.

Space Invaders Forever is a nice little collection, even if the main draw is Space Invaders Extreme. Unfortunately, its sequel isn’t included, or any of the classic games the Invincible Collection contained. Gigamax 4 SE is a strange addition as it is a brief distraction, even when you have the right amount of players. Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders can keep you busy for a while if you don’t already have it on a mobile device. Extreme is still the best way to play a Space Invaders game, with the Switch’s portability a bonus. This odd collection is a hard sell, especially when one game is a free to play mobile game, you have to want Space Invaders Extreme to justify this bundle.

If you’re a fan of Spelunker, then you likely have this game already. There is a demo if you’re on the fence about it, and if the demo isn’t a good fit for you then you should know the full game is a lot more of the same. Once I got used to the punishing mechanics I enjoyed the game more, but its platforming isn’t for everyone and the game makes no effort to help you get better at it. I recommend playing the demo first. Overall, Spelunker Party is a decent addition to the Switch if you’re willing to spend the time to learn it.

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

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.

Falcon Age won’t blow you away, but for the tolerant person, this is a good effort from a small team. If you come in with the right expectations, there’s definitely something to like here. Your falcon is the star of the show - treat her like a partner rather than a tool and you’ll enjoy yourself.

Little Orpheus is a neat, little game with a fun story, quirky characters and a whole lot of atmosphere. A handful of patchable offences aside, if you're keen to find out what ever happened to Ivan and Little Orpeheus on a Soviet subterranean mission gone wrong, then def jump in!

Bluey The Videogame is an excellent adaptation of the TV show, but I wish there were more episodes in it - it can be breezed through in a couple of hours, at least by an adult. While it lasts, it's another fun Bluey adventure that kids will come back to, and parents can still enjoy with them. Just wish there was more of it.

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.

Ultimately, I did enjoy my time with 198X. Much like my own youthful trips to the arcade, it dazzled me briefly but cuts itself short before delivering a substantial experience. What it does succeed at, though, is decorating itself in a pastiche of ‘80s arcade hits, with a brilliant aesthetic and authentic retro remakes. The $15 price isn’t outrageous, but the short runtime might be enough to convince you to wait for a sale before pumping those hard-earned coins.

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

If you 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.

Kao the Kangaroo's first outing in years is fun but not without fault. As nice as it is to see an old platforming IP with a new release on the Switch, the game shouldn't be at the top of your list. But if you're a fan of the genre, take Kao the Kangaroo with a grain of salt, and you may have some fun.

Morphite is a game that takes its time to get your comfortable with exploring and playing it, as long as you also take the time to slow down and appreciate what you’re given. By no means is Morphite an action packed adventure, but it is definitely an interesting and worthwhile one.

When everything works as intended, AO Tennis 2 is a contender for one of the best tennis games on Nintendo Switch. Closing out tense rallies and the satisfaction of winning from a losing position is immense. However, various performance issues on Switch limit its full potential in comparison to its beefier console counterparts. Updates will come, but the Xbox One and PS4 versions of AO Tennis 2 are much easier recommendations right now.

Ultimately, Gear.Club Unlimited may have been better served doubling down on either the arcade or the simulation aspects of driving, not both. In attempting to do both, Gear.Club Unlimited stretches too thinly in trying to cater to both crowds, creating a merely serviceable package filled with content brought down by unsatisfying driving.

This game isn’t bad, this game isn’t great. It’s just there, I played it, and I won’t be going back to it. I find it hard to recommend to anyone with a smartphone since there are similar if not better experiences out there already. If you like puzzle games and want a few hours to kill between shooting squids and Rabbids, pick it up, just set expectations accordingly.

Little Town Hero is a masterclass in experimenting with genre. It does have some technical issues on the surface, but underneath that is a beautiful, complex game packed with charm, depth, and most importantly, fun. It won't be for everybody, but if you like card-based RPGs, you're bound to have a great time.

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.

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.

My Time at Sandrock is good fun. If you enjoyed My Time at Portia or similar games, then you’re very likely going to enjoy this one too — if you can look past the performance issues. Though its console release is a little behind the PC version, and there are some problems to smooth out, I still recommend it for fans of the genre. I really enjoyed the challenges of being a builder in a little town full of interesting characters, mishaps, sandstorms and mysteries.

Overall, Lego Horizon Adventure is nothing but a lot of loading screens, pretty graphics, and entirely too many cutscenes. It’s like they took all the good, enjoyable parts of the Lego games and the Horizon series and threw them away. It is not a good Horizon game, and it is not a good Lego game.

What it all boils down to is a charming and very Nintendo way to activate your prefrontal cortex (or so the educated floating head keeps telling me). Brain Training is just... brain training. If you decide to give it a shot, you might find yourself motivated to better yourself and drawn in by the friendly and approachable presentation. If you’re of an inclination to want to keep your mind active, I can happily say that this is a lot more interesting than any mobile app I’ve ever tried. If you want a traditional video game though, if you want to play a few hours a day, if you want graphics or story or unique gameplay mechanics, none of that’s here. But that’s fine because that’s not what this is.

Rock of Ages 3 is definitely more Rock of Ages. It keeps the same quirkiness that it started with nearly a decade ago. If you’ve been waiting for a more historically-themed tower defence and ball rolling then look no further. However, there are some real issues with the text size. There’s a lot, and it’s hard to read docked and especially when undocked. Hopefully, the text issues are fixed over time, if you can look past it there’s an alright game waiting for you.

Townsmen is more than competent as a town-builder for those looking to be the ruler of their own little kingdom. It feels like just enough was done to separate it from its mobile origins, and you won’t have to spend a cent outside of the original purchase. If you’re looking for a smaller-scale SimCity or enjoy games like Settlers, then Townsmen can scratch that itch.

Overall, RiME is a delicately-constructed experience sprinkled with beautiful moments, on the proviso you play the game exclusively docked to the TV. However, you should consider playing RiME on another platform to avoid the myriad technical and visual issues that come with the Switch port.

For the creators out there, RPG Maker Fes is a great little package with plenty of basic development tools to play with – a “My First RPG Maker”, if you will. For those who just want to play some quality RPG games, step away and play almost any other standalone RPG on the 3DS.

If you’re after game that’s unlike any others on the Switch and you’re after a flight game or just want to soak in the trippy visuals, then InnerSpace has enough of both to enjoy. If you’re after a more traditional game, then it becomes harder to recommend as all the ‘gamey’ elements are the most frustrating parts.

To punctuate what Lawn Mowing Simulator does well, I will use the slogan from British garden care and paint company Ronseal, “it does exactly what it says on the tin.” If you want to mow other people’s lawns without the hassle of getting on all your gardening gear and performing manual labour, then this is for you. You may not look at your virtual lawns the same way as your dad looks at his backyard after a job well done, but it may just be the sleeper hit that the Nintendo Switch may need in a desolate 2024.

While there are many frustrations to be had, NBA Playgrounds does offer exactly what is advertised; a serviceable playground for Switch owners to wreak two-on-two basketball havoc on until the next 2K or NBA Jam game.

Chocobo GP is a playable Kart racer. I wish I could say it was an enjoyable one. The attacks/obstacles are too punishing; there aren't enough tracks that scream to be played over and over, awkward controls and some yet-unpriced IAP and 'Prize Passes'. The Story Mode offers some funny moments with plenty of FF winks and nods in the goofiest ways, but completing it is a frustrating experience. Try out Chocobo GP Lite before putting any cash down on this game.

I wanted to love Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD so much, but ultimately, I walked away with a bitter taste in my mouth. The Super Monkey Ball franchise is one that deserves to thrive again, and it’s sad to say that I think today isn’t the day that happens.

Go Vacation can provide silly sandbox fun given the right company, but the actual structured mini-game content lacks the same level of polish, charm and depth that other Switch multiplayer games feature in spades. With such conditional dependency on enjoyment for what is a steep initial investment, it is difficult to recommend Go Vacation.

It’s just that for this kind of price I’ve come to expect more than a pretty version of the same Bomberman we’ve played for decades and a single player mode bereft of new ideas that feels more like a slog than a joy.

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.

For as much as I wanted to enjoy my time with Override: Mech City Brawl there was just never any escaping its issues. The impressive collection of cosmetic items hints at a game with much more character than the one we got but in almost every other way I was let down. The genre could use a game which pays this much attention to its combat systems but performance issues and a general lack of polish prevent Override: Mech City Brawl from being that game.

This is one game that won’t give you too much of a challenge however, you will be able to cruise through it, but there are things to go back and look around for. A fine-spin off game, but it still is missing something to make a proper stamp on the world.

Mario Sports Superstars does a good job of just being. It doesn't do anything remarkably good but it isn't a badly put together game either. The tournament modes will keep you entertained and the addition of both local multiplayer and online means you do have someone other than the AI to play with. Having to play through all the modes with all the characters is just ridiculous and feels like a cheap way to sell more amiibo cards as well. We're happy Nintendo is keeping the 3DS alive in 2017 but if we're just going to get a game that merely exists, then what is the point?

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.

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

I really went into The Sinking City with some hope. The Cthulhu/ancient ones inspired story combined with some interesting mechanics. On paper I can see this game appealing to fans of the ol’ cosmic horror, but you don’t need The Mind’s Eye to see it turned out a big soggy mess. There is still a decent story if you’re willing to persevere all the madness, but personally the cost is too high. The game surrounding it is deeply unfun and a chore to play, and it sucks I can’t find something nicer about it. The developer Frogwares has made some good Sherlock Holmes games and you can see what they wanted to do here, but please for Kay’s sake stay away from Oakmont!

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

While it doesn’t entirely succeed in carrying the spirit of the games that inspired it, the love and care that the team making the game has poured into it alone makes it worth checking out. There are some really quirky environments to explore along with a fun, lighthearted, and silly plot to experience. In this drought of point and click adventures, if you’ve been craving to get your hands on more puzzle-solving action, Detective Gallo’s office is open and ready for business.

Deiland: Pocket Planet is a perfectly fine farming sim with the novelty of eking out existence on little planets. However, the lean towards busy work means that only fans of the survival genre will get the most out of it.

As a short time-waster, Crimsonland is perfectly fine, but don’t go into it expecting anything too deep. The option for four local players might suit you and the game might be fun with more people, but probably not. Wait for this one to go on sale.

Lego 2K Drive is fine for a semi-open-world racing game. It's a game with a fair few faults, so it all really comes down to how much you want a racer like this on your Switch. The other version will look and run better, but if you want a Lego-themed racer on the Switch, this will do.

Binaries tries to be two things, and misses the mark on both. As a puzzle game, it lacks any actual puzzle solving. As a platformer, it fails in its horribly floaty and imprecise controls, while asking for pixel perfect precision in two vastly different scenarios. In a binary world of 0’s and 1’s, good or bad, Binaries breaks its own boundaries by being incredibly middle of the road.

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?

The Bunker absolutely nails the tense, oppressive atmosphere that it works so hard to build, but the limited interactivity makes it feel more like an interactive movie than a game. The story is fantastic and surprisingly grounded, but the tension the game works so hard to build is eroded by a distinct lack of interactivity and consequence.

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

It's got some neat ideas, a cute art style, a decent sense of humour and some fun songs. But ultimately, I don't think they stuck the landing. If you want a unique rhythm game to play with some friends or you wanna play jam out with Konami bangers, look out for a sale, but otherwise, I'd probably give this one a miss.

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

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