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.

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.

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.

Eastward is a masterful title sure to put Pixpil on the map. The pixel art and animations are top notch, the characters are brilliantly well-written and the story intriguing. The gameplay is perfect blend of RPG and action-adventure and there’s so much game to play. Not to mention the entirety of Earth Born. Eastward should be high on any indie fan’s watchlist!

Mediocre combat, fuzzy visuals. But with the expansions complete, this is a very very solid 50 hour adventure now, and unlike some other DLC-ified games I’ve played, both of The Outer Worlds’ slot very neatly into the original story without feeling unnatural. Now is the time to sink yourself in if you’re a newcomer, and if you’re returning, Murder on Eridanos is a good bit of fun that plays straight into the game’s strengths.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is the best attempt yet by Sega to get back to the brilliance that was the original games. While purists will still feel just a little off at the game's physics, everyone else probably won't notice. With the stack of party games, things to unlock and almost near infinite replayability, Banana Manaia will be something you return to repeatedly. We've all been begging for a remake of Super Monkey Ball. We've finally got, and while it's not perfect – really what is?

Garden Story is a cute little adventure. When you get over the initial hurdle of the first boss, it becomes a more enjoyable time. Saving the world doesn't always have to be super over the top action. Garden Story shows you can do it by helping people and helping to rebuild a community in a more relaxed setting. While there are a few frustrations, if they're ones you can overlook, there is a charming game waiting for you.

WarioWare: Get It Together! is another thoroughly entertaining entry into this wacky series. The introduction of multiple different playable characters has its pros and cons, but once over the initial adjustment period, their addition makes for plenty of replayability, refreshing challenges and the special blend of multiplayer chaos only Wario can provide. It’s not the strongest WarioWare game overall, but it’s another quality party option for your Switch collection.

Boyfriend Dungeon is not only an enjoyable and inclusive dating sim dungeon crawler, but it’s also a thoughtful game on relationships. I had a nice time getting to know the variety of bladed partners, and I’m sure dating sim fans will enjoy it too. The Dunj delving might lack variety, but getting to know the characters is worth the effort. Whether you’re new to dating sims or a regular romancer, you’ll have a fun time in the dunj with your new fling.

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.

Necrobarista: Final Pour is a compelling story of death, grief, and the inevitable passing of our time on this Earth. With an endearing cast, snappy writing, and a careful balancing of humour along with the grim nature of its world, it makes for an enjoyable tale. It may not be the most involved of visual novel games, and the story falls just shy of hitting an emotional home run, but this is still worth a look if you’re after something a little more contemplative.

Cris Tales is a game I was hoping I could heartily recommend. The game's lovely visuals deserve praise; they deliver even on the Switch. The adventures of Crisbell, the time mage and friends are more than suitably grand for an epic JRPG. Unfortunately, the loading times absolutely drain all of the magic out of this game on the Switch. If the other consoles perform better, then definitely check it out there. It truly is a shame technical issues like this hamper the game; it draws even more attention to other problems. I really do hope devs Dreams Uncorporated bring us some more fantastic game worlds. We might have to wait for an upgraded Switch, however.

I wish I could be a bigger fan of No More Heroes 3. There's a lot to like about it, from its enjoyable combat to its solid character design, and even the story setup is absolutely fascinating. Unfortunately for every given thing I liked, there was just as much that I disliked, and its visual fidelity holds it back for far too much of its runtime. If you’re like me, jumping into the third game in a series you’ve never touched before, there’s probably more than enough to turn you away. However, mega-fans of the series will likely find a lot to love.

Quake is still a fantastic game all these years later; it's a pure first-person shooter experience without the fluff. Like the Doom ports before it, we've got a complete package here. An extra stuffed campaign, cooperative play, deathmatch locally and online, voice chat, and display options are all for a meagre price tag. Quake is a lesson on presenting an older game so everyone can enjoy it now and into the future.

Curious Expedition 2 will hook you with its fun comic book aesthetic, and keep you entertained with procedurally generated worlds and compelling character events for many hours. The game delivers an exceptionally entertaining roguelike romp, but may struggle to hold your attention following your first playthrough.

MushihimeSama might've been around for a while now, but it's still as enjoyable, providing a nice change of pace from flying all those old aeroplanes around. Despite looking like there's too much going on at once. Even an average shmup player like myself can feel like a master bullet dodger. If you're looking for a Cave shmup with all the modes included, then MushihimeSama is a worthwhile purchase.

Islanders: Console Edition is not a game for those seeking an epic story, intense action, or even a puzzle game where a high score is all that matters. No, what it does is offer a nice and simple game, where if you only have a few minutes to play, or an hour, you can just enjoy the game for what it is. While the controls are not the most user friendly at times, they don’t stop you from enjoying the experience in the moment and given that there is no punishment for failing, there really isn’t any reason not to give it a go.

Ender Lilies artfully weaves the Metroidvanias and Soulslikes genres in a dark fantasy setting, inviting the player to fully explore all of the secrets (and endings) of Land’s End.

This magical mashup of genres is certain to impress fans of both twin-stick shooters and old-school action-adventure games. With a sweet story and setting to boot, definitely keep Trigger Witch on your radar.

I had high expectations for NEO: The World Ends With You, after its predecessor left such a big impact on me when it first released. Fourteen years later, TWEWY's still got it, defying all expectations as an exciting, enthralling, and genuinely enjoyable follow-up worthy of the title it holds. It's hard to imagine another game that would tick as many boxes as this one did for me, and much like the original, I'll be playing, rewinding, and replaying some more for years to come.

The Great Ace Attorney feels like a passion project where Shu Takumi gets to explore his interests in Japanese history and classic literature, while developing a new cast with no baggage. His team also gets to flex their muscles with improved technology and a bigger budget, providing a keen sense of style that’s unlike anything else in the series. It shakes up the foundation of the Ace Attorney formula with a gripping story bolstered by interesting mechanical improvements. While Ryunosuke and Susato have a clear, contained story across the two games I would love to see more of their adventures in the future.

Crash Drive 3 is sure to hook you for hours on the first play with its flipping fun and crossplay compatibility, but a return visit to this maybe-mobile game is up to you in a market flooded with good car video games.

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.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD manages to smooth over practically every rough edge of the original release and offer a vastly better experience from start to finish. I truly expect this remaster will bring the game's reputation from the maligned place in history where it currently sits up towards the upper echelon of the series where it belongs. Much like how the small town of Skyloft sits in the clouds above an enormous world below, looking beyond the surface of this remaster reveals a revitalised adventure with so much more to enjoy than you expect. Even if you didn't like it ten years ago, I implore you to give it another chance. It just might surprise you.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 gives Monster Hunter fans even more monsties than they bargained for in 2021. This spin-off from the traditional games is an enjoyable adventure, even if the story is a little generic. If you’ve wanted to enjoy the Monster Hunter world without all of the pressure from the main entries, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is an excellent game for fans and people looking for a time to jump in.

Mario Golf Super Rush lives up to its title; everything feels a little uncooked and rushed. The Adventure Mode is meant to be the tentpole feature, but I just wanted it to be over and have everything unlocked. The new modes, Speed Golf and Battle Golf, are fun with real people, as is the rest of the game. Super Rush is fun with a group of friends, either in person or online, but lacking for everyone else. the game has some fun ideas but fails to sink the putt on so many others.

Like Toy-Con Garage, Game Builder feels like it was made to be used by schools IT departments to help younger audiences learn how to program in a way which is easy to understand. It's encouraging to see Nintendo is sticking with finding ways to make programming accessible, hopefully even inspiring future game makers. Game Builder Garage makes programming more understandable as well as enjoyable. It can still be overwhelming, but they put the tools in your hands to try it out. I'll still miss Labo and its creative builds, but Game Builder Garage is an excellent follow-up.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a great remake, made even better by being on the Switch. While the skaters and stages may have aged, they’ve still got it. Hopefully, this is the game to revitalise the Tony Hawk games; even some more remakes would be excellent. With Vicarious Visions now working on other projects, hopefully, Activision can keep the momentum going and usher in a new era of great Tony Hawk Pro Skater games. It might’ve been a wait, but the Switch is the best way to sneak in another run.