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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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