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.

If you haven’t played Rayman Legends at all, or even a Rayman game at all, this is a fantastic jumping on point. It’s gorgeous, the gameplay is fluid, and the progression is so satisfying. This is definitely the best way to play the game, and I can’t recommend it enough!

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.

Sonic Mania is the culmination of a huge amount of work, from people peerlessly passionate about Sonic’s 2D games. Sega took a risk allowing outsiders to take the reins of their defining characteristics and it’s resulted in the best Sonic game in decades. It’s not perfect – there are occasional glitches, some people might find the crushing deaths and general difficulty of later levels a little off-putting – but as after being disappointed with many of Sega’s past attempts at following up Sonic’s early success, Mania did what I had almost given up hope on being possible. Christian Whitehead, Headcannon, and PagodaWest Games have proven they absolutely understand what made Sonic great in the Mega Drive days and have modernised this essence for a modern audience with a follow-up worthy of standing with the best in the series.

Despite a few minor issues, Piczle Lines DX is an excellent puzzle game with a tonne of content and more free content on the way. It will keep you entertained for days, if not weeks. It might be playable on mobile, but the Switch version is cheaper overall, and the option of traditional controls makes the Switch version the definitive Piczle experience.

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.

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

Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training does everything it sets out to do, but it doesn't try to be particularly ambitious. If you've played previous Brain Training games before, you know exactly what you're getting into, but it's not an experience for everybody.

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.

Overcooked is a hectic party game that is great fun if you've got people to play with, but is enjoyable enough if you don't. It's a great addition to the Switch's library but it could have done with a bit more time in the kitchen to sort out its performance issues that keep me from rating this any higher. If those are fixed then its biggest issue is the painful gatekeeping of campaign levels that eventually just become padding rather than a learning aid.

While Mario + Rabbids plays a lot like X-Com, it's not that game at all, aside from the turn based strategy part. The game is a surprising and charming tale with a ton of humour and cheerful soundtrack inspired by the 90s. You'll not only find yourself liking a Rabbids game, but probably loving it. Up there with the best on Switch.

I derived no enjoyment from playing the broken Troll and I, or in writing this review. Do not buy this game in favour of the many wonderful Switch eShop titles on offer representing a significantly better return on time and monetary investment.

De Mambo is odd. De Mambo knows how odd it is, and bathes in the identity that it has created for itself. What you’ll find here is a fascinatingly strange little game with style that I haven’t quite seen before. If you’re looking for another charming little multiplayer experience to add to your portable library, De Mambo might be something you want to check out. It’s not perfect, but there’s definitely some good here that outshines its flaws.

Despite first appearances, I truly think Ironcast is something special. It's remarkably in-depth in everything it tries to achieve, and it pulls it all off without breaking a sweat. The steampunk setting is absolutely beautiful and executed well, and the game is an absolute joy to play over and over and over again. My only gripe with the game is that people will pass over it just for the match-3 mechanics it includes, and that's truly a tragedy.

While parts of Ever Oasis are fun to play and satisfying when you solve a challenging puzzle in a dungeon, as a whole the game feels like it doesn't quite do enough in either aspect in dungeon crawling or town management. I can see the appeal that this might have for fans of these types of games but personally, I think it would have benefited to be one or the other, fully fleshed out.

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.

The improved single-player experience, the enhanced and multitude of online modes for all skill levels and Salmon Run which is just a ton of fun make Splatoon 2 the complete Switch game. The game’s style and charm are terrific and it runs at an amazing 1080p 60fps rock solid the entire time. With a year or more of updates promised and regular Splatfests planned, Splatoon 2 will among your most played games for a while to come.

Ultimately I found Hey! Pikmin boring and tedious to play. While younger audiences might find the game enjoyable, had I not been reviewing the game I would have dropped it after an hour or so.

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.

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.

Expect nothing inventive or complex with its puzzle design, but if the idea of a cute family in a uniquely gross and dark world sounds appealing you might just enjoy your time with this brief little adventure.

I don’t like using this word much, but Vaccine seems like a cynical cash grab. A game that is designed to cash in on the nostalgia of games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, while mixing together elements from today’s school of game design with disappointing results. The presentation feels okay, but the art and style of the game feel awfully run-of-the-mill and generic. Vaccine is tone-deaf to the games it's trying to emulate and misses the mark in almost every department.

Kirby’s Blowout Blast is easily my favourite of the mini games released on the 3DS due to how much more depth is has compared to the others. You’re getting around 5-6 hours of play from your $10 purchase, making it a good way to tide you over until Kirby returns later this year on the 3DS and Switch in 2018.

You will die a lot in GoNNER. It’s part of the process, and the game doesn’t punish you for trying out new things, as a death usually just means you get to try again with new experience to take with you. I recommend GoNNER for anyone who appreciates a fun challenge, where the sense of progression is your own knowledge of the game.

Death Squared is another game on the Switch that's not easy to play, but it is fun. Like other puzzlers on the console, it's not dependent on playing with other people but you'll get the most out of it if you do. Anyone can pick up and play this game, but they're going to swear and complain when they do, both at the game and the people they're playing it with.

This is simply one of those games that has an uncomplicated premise, with a variety of game types that affect the win conditions more than the game itself. And that’s exactly what a game like this needs to be. While I wouldn’t recommend the game by its own right, I see this being in a lineup of a bunch of local multiplayer games on the Switch with friends. On its own, there isn’t much there for you.

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.

Drop It: Block Paradise!, in its current state, is a broken mess of a game that made me genuinely fear for the well-being of my console. It's sad to see an interesting concept dragged down by poor execution and a buggy release.

But the game just feels so slow, overall, that these flashy ways of driving just end up feeling obtrusive to an already frustrating game. A lot of these ‘perform trick here’ areas are on the main track, which doesn’t sound like a bad thing at first. But this leads me into my second issue- there are just too many shortcuts.

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.

With a heap of stages, designed to let you play a little or play a lot, a decent difficulty level and pretty visuals to match, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Some more variety in sight and sound wouldn't have been so bad, but the gameplay and continuous introduction of new gameplay elements forgive this.

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.

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.

On a console seemingly packed with intense, time-consuming games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Shovel Knight, Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition feels like a breath of fresh air. With its endless possibilities and freeform gameplay structure, it can be as casual or intense as you want it to be. Coupled with the ability to undock and take it on the go without having to submit to finicky touch-screen controls, this might just be the best version of Minecraft on the market, and it is undoubtedly one of the best games currently available on the Switch.

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.

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.

I really, really like Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Shifting the focus from character interactions to more gameplay mechanics was a huge deal for me, along with a story that feels like it’s developing with you, rather than happening in the background. Definitely pick it up if you’re a Fire Emblem fan, either new or old!

While Human Resource Machine has made me want to throw my Switch across the room in frustration, it’s got a very fair and understanding difficulty curve which is very important for a game like this. Even if you’re awful at maths like myself Human Resource Machine is a must buy for anyone looking to kill a few hours in between Mario Karting sessions.

Absolutely Unstoppable Mine Run is not a bad game. It’s solidly built and runs with little issue, it’s fun to play in short bursts and the multiplayer is remarkably fun for all involved. That said, the issues it does have are so frustrating that I doubt I’ll be playing much of it unless all of my other games suddenly stop working and I’m desperate for something to play.

I believe Poisoft is capable of creating something much better. It’s such a shame. What’s presented here isn’t awful, but it’s not necessarily good either. Giving the game more time to develop would have benefitted it greatly. In its current state, Vroom in the Night Sky feels more like an alpha build rather than a full release.

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.

Tumbleseed is just a game about concentration and survival. Simple to understand, incredibly hard to master. There’s a variety of different approaches to the levels, depending on your play style, and no matter what, the game will always give you a challenge.

The Jackbox Party Pack is an investment for parties just like any other tabletop or board game. It's not something you'll play every day but if you have friends or family over a lot and you can work through the games and have a tonne of fun. There's nothing remarkable about the Switch version, but it doesn't need to be - The Jackbox Party Pack 3 stands on its own.

Puyo Puyo Tetris feels like the definitive puzzler for the Nintendo Switch. Both Tetris and Puyo Puyo share similarities and feel right at home together here, but the overall package feels incredibly complete and comprehensive. There’s enough here to do no matter how you want to play and who you want to play with, online or off. The price is bound to be a talking point here, but given how solid and polished the Puyo Puyo Tetris experience is, it’s hard to fault it for much.

Even if you've already played thew original to death, the inclusion of Battle Mode and the general level of extra polish the game has received will be enough to get you to double dip. The icing on the cake is that the game can now be played anywhere, with multiplayer out of the box. The silky smooth graphics are impressive for what is technically a portable game, while the punchy jazz-inspired soundtrack just gets better with age.

With the Switch release, the game has improved somewhat with its performance, however it still has long loads, just not as frequently. If you don’t mind stepping back in time, with regards to the gameplay, compared to the recent Lego titles, you will find enough humour and variety here to entertain you or your little ones.

Despite all my complaints, if you’re even remotely interested – I still implore you to give Snake Pass a go. The reason behind all my nit-picking is simply because I liked this game so much. From the sprawling environments to the unique control scheme – it all wraps up to be a rather interesting experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Skylanders Imaginators might do a serviceable job at scratching that platforming itch left by the absence of games like Super Mario Odyssey, but it just feels like yet another Skylanders game. While the Switch version brings more hardware appropriate features to the table, it still feels slightly inferior to other versions, especially as it’s missing content. Issues aside, Imaginators is bound to be a hit with younger audiences, but just be warned it’s a franchise that’s truly starting to stagnate.

World of Goo is a game that has aged pretty well since it's original release and the HD graphics go a long way in making it stay a classic puzzle game. The progression is great, with some levels that will make you scream and shout whilst simultaneously pulling out your hair, has a great art style and some pretty funny remarks from The Unknown Sign Painter. It does face some control issues but nothing which is a deal breaker. If you haven't played World of Goo before, or even if it's been a few years or more since you last did, it's certainly worth your time on the Switch.

Even being a $10 (or slightly cheaper with a MyNintendo discount) eShop title, there is simply not enough quantity or quality to justify a purchase – Chase tries its best to make the two-hour trek a grind. The characters are merely nothing more than hollow vessels for driving the plot forward. It is totally disappointing that there is no thrill or cognitive challenge to the game – this is one investigation not worth chasing.

All in, SteamWorld Heist is a fantastic entry in the turn based strategy genre. The visual style is trademark SteamWorld and shines on the Wii U, while the gameplay feels more direct and impactful thanks to it’s reliance on player aiming rather than chance.

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.

It will be entirely up to you whether the writing and redeeming elements of the battle system suit your preferences, but I am absolutely glad I was able to give Paper Mario: Color Splash a chance.

Pokémon Sun and Moon make terrific changes the twenty-year-old formula, allowing new fans and returning ones back into the series with a wonderful lively and colourful world. It's just a little too easy for us who have been here from the start - but it's easy to forgot that when you're having such a blast.

Pokémon Sun and Moon make terrific changes the twenty-year-old formula, allowing new fans and returning ones back into the series with a wonderful lively and colourful world. It's just a little too easy for us who have been here from the start - but it's easy to forgot that when you're having such a blast.

The addition of the tutorials to the maker modes, the addition of the Super Mario Challenge and retention of the all great single player content and the ability to still download courses means this game is less Super Mario Maker and more Super Mario Fan Edition. It's hard to recommend this one, especially when the Wii U version is far superior and feels more alive, the Super Mario Challenge is interesting but it still feels incomplete.

Super Mario Run is a Mario game on your phone, get over it already. Because if you don't you're missing out on a great Mario experience. Like any other Mario game, practise and precision is key; just because you use one hand to play it doesn't make it any less skillful. The game feels like a Mario game but at the same time it also feels like a more modern title on a phone. World Tour rewards you for grinding and Toad Rally is the pay off, Nintendo's managed to make the entire game balanced no matter how you like to play. Nothing takes longer than it has to, it's a game on your phone and Nintendo's fully managed that. Super Mario Run is addictive, charming and fun and well worth the full price. You like fun right?

Apocalypse is very much a more-of-the-same sort of sequel, but when the first instalment was already pretty solid, all you can really do is a few touch ups and a new story. Definitely check it out if you played and enjoyed Shin Megami Tensei IV- I’d have a hard time recommending it to anybody else without the context provided by the first game. Having said that, if you haven’t played the first one, go do that! It’s usually cheap on the eShop, and you already know there’s a fairly expansive universe around just the SMT IV story now.

Although Disney Magical World 2 does not quite achieve the same level of depth and sheer unadulterated fun that the Animal Crossing series does, it is definitely a worthy placeholder while we wait for what is hopefully a worthwhile Animal Crossing mobile game.

The ability to play perfect emulations of the classics on the go, with the addition of genuinely good 3D effects should be more than enough reason for Sega fans to pick this one up.

While the game doesn’t have the generation spanning appeal of the great Nintendo canon, what we have here is a very competent entry level role playing game for younger players. More mature players will find little to be impressed by with Yo-Kai Watch 2’s plentiful but basic offerings.

While the game doesn’t have the generation spanning appeal of the great Nintendo canon, what we have here is a very competent entry level role playing game for younger players. More mature players will find little to be impressed by with Yo-Kai Watch 2’s plentiful but basic offerings.

While Super Mario Maker 3DS felt crippled and downgraded, Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World feels equal. With the Wii U version getting updated to support Poochy & Poochy Dash there’s not too many advantages to the game, but also no downsides. If you missed this on Wii U, there’s no excuses not to pick this up, but if you do own it already you may just want to look into adding the amiibo to your collection. Now if only we had some Poochy Pup amiibo….

If you’re a Fire Emblem fan, seeing those familiar faces intermingle across different eras and stories is kinda cool from a gameplay perspective. If you’ve never played Fire Emblem before, this might be the one of the kindest introductions into the series.

It’s not an original concept, but taking the Pictionary idea and bringing it to a touch screen enabled, internet connected video game console genuinely adds a lot to the experience.

There’s honestly a good game to be found in Lifespeed. Unfortunately, the experience I had was plagued with too many problems and flaws to be one that I can say I loved. There’s a lot of potential in a lot of the ideas the game presents, but clumsy execution leads them to be squandered. It would be a delight to see the game with new improvements in the future, whether it’s an updated version or a brand new release.

Breath of the Wild isn’t just the best Zelda game ever crafted, it’s one of the best games of all time...Hand over the crown, Ocarina of Time.

1-2 Switch is just light on great mini-games, it’s shallow and once you’ve played them all with a group of friends you’re unlikely to go back. Some games just boil down to dumb luck, the real games are few and far between...You’ll have fun with it, but probably just once.

An extremely polished high-speed racer at home or on the go, FAST RMX is an essential Switch launch title worthy of anyone’s collection.

It’s a fantastic rhythm game and hopefully a sign that many more amazing titles will follow.

Just Dance 17 is both refreshing and stale. On one hand, it’s great to see a late port from a third party that has as many features, if not more than the other versions available. On the other, the Just Dance franchise itself is pretty much the same as it was last year, or the year before, or the year before.

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.

One thing that stands out about the game is the art style. Everything is flat and 2D and looks as if it could all be made from craft paper. The characters are full of life and have personality, which is surprising, considering they exist in a puzzle game. They have a range of facial expressions that make me laugh every time I play. Whether it’s a sneaky look while creeping along close to the ground or a shy blush when your partner cuts a bit of you away, the characters truly bring the game to life.

Treasure Trove is packed to the brim with content and the different ways you can play through these games is wonderfully broad. Whether its co-op or solo, handheld or docked – it’s up to you. I don’t care. Just go play Shovel Knight.

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?

Levels are short, and as suitable for a quick play whilst commuting as they are for a longer play session. You can choose to test your puzzling chops by collecting crowns, but this is entirely at your discretion. BYE-BYE BOXBOY! does everything it can to create and maintain a mindful chilled environment, and it’s a really pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.

It is difficult to recommend Little Inferno to those who already played it on Wii U, beyond supporting Tomorrow Corporation and independent developers on the Switch. For those who have yet to own their very own Little Inferno Entertainment Fireplace, Little Inferno offers plenty of intriguing social commentary and a good dose of humour – that is if you don’t mind regularly being the butt of the joke.

Occasionally, the gameplay changes up by throwing different mechanics every now and then, including one section where you assume control of a hamster to explore small nooks and crannies. However, these sections just feel tacked on and the hamster section felt fiddly and imprecise to control on the 3DS. These sections are irregular, allowing the focus to remain solely on the solid RPG mechanics.

Has-Been Heroes is a reasonable game to play on-the-go thanks to the portability of the Switch. But the game itself tries something different but in the process, falls apart. Perhaps with more intuitive controls, or a more compelling sense of level design, Has-Been Heroes would be a great game. But in its current state, Has-Been Heroes is unruly to play, generic to look at and quite simply not fun. It’s disappointing as there is potential here, but Has-Been Heroes squanders it.