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.

Both MySims games deliver on their promise of fun, relaxed simulation experiences with a lot of charm and creativity, each with its own flavor; one focused on free-form creativity, the other on structured adventure and kingdom-building. Whilst I found major issues with some of the menus and with the camera controls – or lack thereof – the overall experience was still an enjoyable one.

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.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a worthwhile upgrade to the base game, bringing with it things that fans have wanted for a very long time — but it also leaves some of the game’s more frustrating quirks intact, in a way that feels a little bit like a missed opportunity. It’s still a fantastic game, but it’s hard not to feel like too much was left on the table when addressing the game’s flaws.

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.

Loco Motive is a fun and funny murder mystery adventure. For the small quibbles, it is a really enjoyable trip. I recommend Loco Motive in a heartbeat to anyone who enjoys a good point-and-click adventure, or even if you just thought the game looked fun. With such a good first release, I look forward to seeing what Robust Games comes up with after this.

Returns is great, but I am so ready for a new Donkey Kong, whether it be a Country game or something else. We’ve had this game for 15 years and yes it stands up, Tropical Freeze we’ve been treated to twice as well. Now Returns is available to play in the best way possible, so if you’ve never dipped in there’s no better time to, but if you’ve already played this before there’s nothing new here really for you. Still a modern classic.

Just Dance 2025 might not surprise long term fans, but that could be due to Ubisoft having the formula finely honed over the years. For the newcomers (such as myself) there is a fun party game here, and it’s a pretty fun way to be active too.

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is a game aimed at a younger audience, and while it looks the part, it ultimately feels like a bit of a chore to play through. The content is fairly barebones—there are 50 levels, but aside from a few gadgets and the occasional interesting boss battle, the core gameplay is rather dull and stiff. You’d really need to be a big Dog Man fan to look past its shortcomings.

Fitness Boxing 3 keeps the sweat up just as much as the previous games in the series. There are enough new modes here to keep things interesting, but how long you stick with it depends on your ability to find the time to exercise. I played much of this in handheld mode after waking up in the morning, and that worked for me. It is a great package, and makes for a good introduction to exercising. It has its annoyances for sure, but nothing big enough that would prevent me recommending this title to anyone looking to improve their overall physical wellbeing.

Stray tells several different stories, all through the eyes of a cat. It's a touching tale that won't take too long to complete and doesn't overstay its welcome. The platforming skills required are minimal, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience. While the Switch version is a bit fuzzy, the game retains its charm with great lighting and effects, even if it doesn't run as smoothly as the versions on other consoles. It might only take a weekend to finish, but it'll stay with you forever, like cat fur on your couch.

Overall I highly recommend Dungeons of Dreadrock 2 for anyone who likes pixel games, mystery or puzzles! You’re in for a challenging yet fun time that you can pick up and put down without any worry.

Tetris Forever tells the story of the game's creation through the 80s and 90s with in-depth and engaging interviews with Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers. It's heartening to see that their friendship has endured since those early days. The emulation and recreation of these classic Tetris games are spot on, with plenty of options available. However, the selection of games isn't very diverse and stops before things got weird with Tetris. Without Time Warp included, the game selection would feel a bit average. Don't think of Tetris Forever as a place to get a fresh Tetris fix, but rather as a walk-through time, and you'll do alright.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is one of the most faithful remakes I’ve ever played, for better and for worse. If, like me, you’ve played a version of this wonderful game recently, it might not be worth spending the cash on a new version that is functionally almost identical and left me wanting more. If you’ve never played DQ3 before, though, there’s no doubt that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is the best way to play one of the most iconic games in the series’ history.

Mario & Luigi Brothership is a joy to play, as well as an excellent entry in the Mario & Luigi series. Even as the Switch era is sailing towards new waters, it is a real treat to see them release such amazing games. I hope it gets all the attention it deserves in spite of being released on the tail end of the Switch's lifespan. If you haven't had the opportunity to play a game from the Mario & Luigi series, this is as good a jumping-in point as any, and this is a must-own for long-term fans of any of the Mario RPG entries.

This is easily the best Mario Party game on the Switch, and while some might argue otherwise, it's likely the best Mario Party in recent memory, all without using the series' past as a crutch. It’ll be hard to top this one.

Tomba is a product of a bygone era, resuscitated and presented as it was, with no nostalgic filters on top. The good here outweighs the bad, but there’s no denying that it looks, feels, and plays just like Tomba did on the PS1. It’s one of the more impressive sidescrollers of the era, with some bold ideas that were well ahead of its time, but the usual frustrations and limitations are present too, as they rightly should be.

There's a lot to love about The Plucky Squire. It’s Zelda-inspired without being a complete clone and introduces a bunch of new ideas and fun mini-games. The ability to dip in and out of the storybook with two different presentations is interesting, though a little fuzzy in 3D on the Switch. However, the game seems determined to stop you from playing it, constantly interrupting you or offering help with tasks that are obvious from a mile away. Sometimes, games can just be a little shorter, and that’s alright too.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the Zelda game I’ve always wanted, putting Hyrule’s princess into the thick of it for the first time and coming up with incredible results. The gameplay loop is phenomenal, the story is lovely, and with any luck this will be the first of many adventures for the Zelda series’ leading lady.

Capcom has lovingly crafted a collection of some of their best fighting game work. Everything runs as it should, and you can customise it to look how you want. It's adjustable for those who have been playing these games their entire lives, while still being welcoming to someone who just wants to see what all the fuss has been about.

Monster Jam Showdown faithfully recreates the dual-steering controls and physics of driving a monster truck — for better or worse. However, the game's story mode quickly devolves into a grind-heavy experience with events that all end up feeling the same. It's faithful to a fault.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection comes highly recommended. If you have not tried these games on the Nintendo DS, I wholeheartedly ask that you give this a try. Now that all of the games in the Ace Attorney series are available on the Nintendo Switch, my sincere hope is that Capcom look to the future and begin to make new games in the series.