Replanted seems like a great version of the game, and having not played the game for so long and never on a home console, I felt right at home (without a zombie in it) back in the neighbourhood with this one. There's a few small things to fix up, but overall Plants vs Zombies Replanted is a fun time, and it'll be "one more time" each time you play it.

Two games in, it’s clear now that the Legends subtitle is for experimental ideas and gameplay concepts. Pokémon Legends: Z-A experiments a lot, taking big swings with its action combat system and smaller, more focused world, but it’s a very successful experiment and hopefully a sign of great things to come for the Pokémon franchise. Minor quibbles aside, Legends: Z-A very quickly became my favourite Pokémon game in the modern era, and probably the best Pokémon game in years.

The original Yooka-Laylee brought us a 90s platformer in a modern skin, but it also carried over a lot of the bad habits of the era. Instead of trying to be its own game, it tried too hard to be a Banjo-Kazooie. Yooka-Replaylee now knows more clearly what it wants to be: a modern platformer that evokes the past rather than being dictated by it. Everything here has been improved: the controls, the game world, the graphics, and the camera. I forced myself through the original release, and when I reached the end of this one, I was like, “Oh, it’s over.” Playtonic listened to feedback, reflected on their work, and have made something really great here.

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

Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 are tremendous games and remain among the best Mario experiences. The packaging here on Switch between the two games is a little mixed, with controls never quite matching the originals and odd graphical quirks that ideally should be fixed. However, the games themselves do all the talking, and playing them again is an experience you simply need to have.

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

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom didn’t sell as well as Breath of the Wild, and if you have to pick only one, you’ll probably go with the latter. But if you haven’t played it at all, now’s the perfect time to check it out at its silky smooth best on the Nintendo Switch 2. Hyrule in Tears is a world worth exploring again.

Cook Serve Forever takes a nice breather from the hectic menu management of the main trilogy while still keeping the spirit of the series. While Cook, Serve, Delicious: Re-Mustard! is still in the oven, this side adventure is still a fun time.

Splatterbot is a fun, brief multiplayer game solely developed by a one-person team at Hey! Kookaburra. The game works best in short bursts with friends, and it never presents itself as anything grander. Sometimes it’s nice to have a solid party game that’s easy to pick up and play.

It really can’t be overstated how significant it is that we have a working, portable, fully-fledged edition of Madden on the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s incredible that the game works as well as it does. There are trade-offs such as lower resolution and lower frames than other consoles, but those don’t allow you to play the game portably this well. The on-field action is smooth, and every mode allows for significant investment. I highly recommend picking this up, especially to see EA continuing to support the Switch 2 with its sport games.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World takes the best Kirby game ever made and builds on it, cementing the game’s place as the turning point for the series towards loftier goals. Improved graphics and a bump in frame rate make the game’s already excellent art style look and feel even better, and the new stages, while more of the same, are even more fun than the base game. It’s a brilliant game made better in just about every way, and well worth the upgrade.

I have been playing farming games for quite a while now, going back to the original Harvest Moon on the Super Nintendo. I can honestly say that Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar likely will rank in my top five games in the genre. There is plenty to do in the game, the voice acting is surprisingly well done, and most importantly of all, it is not a chore to play. I never played the DS original of this; however, I am confident when I say that this is a definitive version of the game and well worth checking out.

Nightdive knows what they’re doing with these releases, and it’s great to see Heretic and Hexen updated for a modern audience—whether that’s people discovering them for the first time, or people like me coming back after too many years. There are plenty of changes here for the better, though a few weird ones too, like some maps being different. Still, that shouldn’t stop you from having a great time if you’re a fan of the era.

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?

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S does add to the original PPT2 in a few small ways to squeeze out a little extra life out of this five-year-old game. However, it’s not enough to justify forcing fans to fork out again, not when you can just purchase the original Switch version. Not offering an upgrade path to the Switch 2 version feels like a needless shakedown of Puyo Puyo fans, especially when there’s no real benefit to online players. If you don’t own this game already, then I would still recommend Puyo Puyo Tetris 2’s Switch 1 version. It is a real shame that Sega has made a great game hard to recommend.

I hope Nintendo handles future Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + New Content releases in a more organised and organic way. It’s overly complicated to play through the different modes, with caveats everywhere, which means some modes don’t get the proper Switch 2 Edition treatment. Mario Party superfans will enjoy the new modes for the main board games, but the Jamboree TV additions—aside from the mouse games—are a bit average. Jamboree was a solid and complete package, and this just splits it all up and breaks the flow.

Patapon 1 + 2 is a great overall collection. Bringing back a couple of unique titles from the PlayStation Portable provides a rhythm experience that is difficult to find anywhere else. There are some significant improvements to the visuals, however as a remastered collection, it lacks much else beyond that. The games are demanding, and there will be a lot of repetition and planning that may not be for everyone. However, there is not anything quite like the feel of successfully finishing a level and keeping the little Patapons happy.

Given the current climate in the video game industry, it’s hard to know if we’ll ever see another Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater collection. THPS 3+4 was a miracle to get made at all. This reimagining of the classic Tony Hawk games is still a joy to play, even if there have been some compromises. Now, it’s time to live in (potentially foolish) hope for a remake or remaster of Tony Hawk’s Underground!

It’s not flawless, but what they’ve done here is take a character who’s been out in the wild and bring Donkey Kong back home, with Nintendo putting its own stamp on DK in a fresh new way. Like Breath of the Wild and Odyssey, Nintendo has taken a cornerstone character, thrown out most of the rulebook, but kept the soul. Donkey Kong Bananza feels like a blueprint for DK’s future, and a reminder of how ambitious and richly designed Nintendo’s games can be. Bananza is here now, though—and it’s really something special.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed revisiting the origins of my favourite fighting boys in Yakuza 0: Directors cut. For longtime fans, this version offers the definitive way to revisit Yakuza 0, and for first timers, it's the perfect place to start.

Fast Fusion’s least exciting mechanic might actually be the one in its name — the fusions themselves are fine, but let’s be honest: we’re all here for more anti-gravity racing that pushes the Switch 2 to its limits — and we’re only a couple of weeks into the system’s life. For the hardcore, there are the added challenges of Time Attack and Superhero modes, but for everyone else who just loves a good race, Fast Fusion still delivers the fun.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still a phenomenal game, and it's now best played on the Nintendo Switch 2, with improved loading times, higher-resolution graphics, and that silky-smooth frame rate. Zelda Notes is entirely optional if you want to ignore it — and hopefully that sort of addition isn’t the main reason upgrades cost more (or anything).

Ultimately, Sonic X Shadow Generations reflects my long-running relationship with Sonic games. Like having Sonic and Shadow on both my shoulders, I felt both frustration and delight during various aspects of the game. Minor control issues and level designs get in the way of pure enjoyment, though there is still a sense of fun and speed that shines through. Shadow’s campaign adds some welcome variety but left me wanting more from it. The 3D levels are pure 3D Sonic—for better or worse—and the 2D levels do not capture the magic of the Mega Drive classics. Sonic fans will rejoice in revisiting Sonic’s old worlds and reliving Shadow’s past.

There’s a reason Mario Kart sells as well as it does (just ignore that it’s bundled with the console this time). It’s truly a game anyone can enjoy, and with the addition of new Knockout Tour modes, integration with GameChat, and the free-roam map that fundamentally changes how Mario Kart works, there’s truly something for everyone here. We’ve never seen Mario Kart look, run, and sound this good. Mario Kart World is peak Mario Kart.

We used to read instruction manuals in the back of the car on the way home for fun — we didn’t buy them, they weren’t as complex as this — but we’ve already been sold on the Switch 2, so we don’t need convincing again. There are worse ways to spend the same money Nintendo is asking for this, but there are also better.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a fantastic addition to the series and the genre as a whole. It’s got plenty to enjoy for farming game fans, life sim fans, and RPG fans, a lovely cast of characters, and mostly solid presentation that makes it a delight to play. There are a few shortcomings here and there, but it’s hard not to recommend it to just about anyone looking for a nice, laid-back experience with lots of charm.

Tempopo is a phenomenal puzzle game that excels in just about everything it tries to do, taking inspirations from some of the best games in the genre and turning them into something truly unique and truly special. It’s a gorgeous audiovisual experience that puts your brain into a puzzle-solving frenzy, and it’s one of the best puzzle games you’ll ever play.

Which Way Up: Galaxy Games is a fun party game from the small development team at Turtle Flip Studio. Not only is an enjoyable time with a group, definitely the more the merrier, but there’s something of value for solo players too. There are some technical issues that can pop up, and the Single Player mode can be surprisingly strict on unlocking levels, but overall Which Way Up is a blast.