Bravely Default II is a game laden with frustration, with unfairness, with a lack of respect for the player's time. It's a game that could be massively improved, but only ever in small ways. It's an active step backward in terms of quality of life and playability features for the series… But when it works, it works wonderfully, its combat systems soaring to satisfying heights, its storytelling exciting and chilling. It's a game forever at conflict with itself, offering freedom then punishing you for pursuing it. I hate myself for loving it, but I love myself too much to ever go back to it. To sum it up, it's an arduous, glorious, frustrating, beautiful mess. It's a bit of a love-hate relationship.

Little Nightmares 2 is a horror game that stays with you sometime after the credits roll. If you want a game to keep you feeling tense and uncomfortable for a few hours, Mono and Six will be able to help. Tarsier Studios doesn't throw buckets of gore at you or go for cheap scares; they know how to creep. The sequences requiring precision platforming and combat let the game down in some areas. If you're looking for a tense roller-coaster ride of dread and the grotesque, this is the nightmare for you.

Blue Fire is a real mixed bag. For all of the enjoyable platforming, there is the annoying combat. For all of the exploration, as you dash and jump around Penumbra, you can easily lose a chunk of time through game crashes. Despite all of the issues that frustrated me, I still really enjoyed the game when it would let me. If you're willing to risk the game crashing now and then, Blue Fire happens to be quite the platformer.

Working your way across the islands will only take a few hours, depending on how you go with the puzzle and orb hunting. Down in Bermuda offers a relaxing time to just potter around Bermuda and find your way back home to the life you left behind. Being an Apple Arcade game first and Switch game second, it does make it a harder sell if you have access to Apple Arcade. Down in Bermuda is worth checking out if you enjoy interactive puzzles and a charming cel-shaded island item hunts.

Space Invaders Forever is a nice little collection, even if the main draw is Space Invaders Extreme. Unfortunately, its sequel isn’t included, or any of the classic games the Invincible Collection contained. Gigamax 4 SE is a strange addition as it is a brief distraction, even when you have the right amount of players. Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders can keep you busy for a while if you don’t already have it on a mobile device. Extreme is still the best way to play a Space Invaders game, with the Switch’s portability a bonus. This odd collection is a hard sell, especially when one game is a free to play mobile game, you have to want Space Invaders Extreme to justify this bundle.

Going Under has some great synergy, but don’t expect any sort of hostile takeover of your life. It lacks scope and variety compared to time-devouring classics like The Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon, and certainly doesn’t come close to the challenge of either of those two games. As an accessible, friendly, funny take on the genre though, it scores some big points, and is generally a blast and a half. You should give this one a spin.

Bowser’s Fury, like 3D World seven years ago, is a joy to play, and again full of fresh ideas and a new way to play Mario. This is an excellent Mario package for new Switch players and returning ones just the same.

Gods Will Fall is an interesting take on both the rogue and hard-game genre. Its reliance on randomisation of character stats, weapons and dungeon difficulty makes it perfect for short or long plays and helps to keep the player hooked with moments ranging from abject difficulty to hilarious ease.

Persona 5 Strikers does the seemingly impossible in mashing up two very different genres and striking a balance that works. Beyond just its incredibly satisfying gameplay, Strikers' story is more than a worthy successor to Persona 5, and the two together make for an experience that is going to be difficult to match going forward — either in Persona games, or in Warriors games. There are some small issues with the Switch port, but all in all there's little to complain about. It's a fantastic game, from top to bottom, and almost makes up for the absence of Persona 5 on the Switch.

I love the concepts and world of Heaven's Vault, but I know deep down I would have loved them more as something other than a game.

A 2D pixel art puzzle platformer that is a cut above the rest. With fantastic world building and atmosphere, Olija’s cinematic experience flourishes in delightful ways, yet is restrained where it counts.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game holds up today really well in some aspects (visual design and music), but is still held back by its shortcomings over a decade ago (difficult in the beginning, even on the easiest mode; level up system is still too vague). But when you can look past the setbacks, it’s still a solid action game that’s made even more fun if you can get some friends on the couch to play with you. Let’s hope the game doesn’t get obliterated from every digital store in a few years like it did last time...

Immortals Fenyx Rising is always going to be compared to Breath of the Wild, but against all odds, it puts up a massively formidable fight. What's excellent about Immortals is not so much what it shares with Nintendo's biggest Zelda game, but rather where it differs, offering a fresh new approach to storytelling, a fantastic progression system, and a world that you'll never want to leave. No game is perfect, but for me, Immortals comes just about as close as you can get.

This is a charming, clever puzzler that is a delightful cooperative experience that is perfect for an afternoon on the couch with a friend or loved one. The simple controls make it easy to pick up, and the witty uses of the core concept will make you smile as much as the brightly coloured scenery. It’s well worth a look if you’re after something a little bit different.

It's impressive achievement to be playing this on the Switch, the cut downs to get it on there are visible, but the core gameplay loop remains fun even if you're looking through vaseline to get there.

Drawn To Life: Two Realms is likely to serve a niche, but unless you’re hankerin’ for more as a long time fan - or are really starved for some puzzle platforming - beautiful artwork and some occasional brilliance can only get you so far.

Tropico 6's Switch port is one for fans of the series or the genre. If you're not a fan, you might not be able to struggle through the performance of the game as you learn the game's many systems and depth. It is still a joy to be able to play these types of games on the go; they're nearly there.

Part of the charm of Puyo Puyo is the characters, and when you combine that with the personification of the Tetraminoes there is a lot to enjoy here. The Adventure mode is full of quirky and silly interactions with characters Puyo fans will be familiar with, along with any fondness for the characters PPT introduced. The new Skill Battle mode might not set the world on fire, but if you want more out of the game you could spend some time levelling up a team. On top of that, the game is just really fun to play, especially if you can join friends either in person or online. There is also more free content to be added into the game post-launch to look forward to as well! Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a welcome return when the world can do with an enjoyable game to see out 2020.

Monster Sanctuary is a clever entry in the Monster Catcher genre, it naturally combines a deep battle system with Metroidvania elements with the lore of the game to create quite a special 2D pixel art indie title.

Fuser is off to a good start and for any music lovers, there is so much potential to make some wild and creative mixes with some familiar beats.

Fitness Boxing 2 is largely the same as the first title. The only real difference is that there are more trainers to choose from and the soundtrack is different. For owners of the first game, this may not be enough, but the option to transfer your exercise and user data from the first game is available nonetheless. For extended workouts, get a pair of gloves as those Joy-Cons will get super sweaty. It is a hugely accessible title that sets out to fill the Wii Fit void and acts as a nice complement to proper diet and exercise routine.

Sam and Max Save the World closes out this absurd year in a scarily appropriate way. It’s writing remains as whip-smart and irreverent as it always was, as do the bulk of its politics and tone. Skunkape Games has drawn on its personal legacy with the game to lovingly remaster its presentation and provided a Switch port that feels snappy and clean as well as stylish.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered remains a thrilling arcade racer even a decade on from its debut. The minute to minute excitement of playing cat and mouse with cops and racers is still an entertaining concept, and Criterion is the master of this type of white-knuckle racing. It is admittedly relatively basic as far as remasters are concerned, and there’s not that much here for those who have seen it all before, but those who have yet to drive these streets are in for a good time.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a joy to see out 2020 while we wait for the next Zelda.

Oddworld New ‘n’ Tasty is not only a solid remake, but it’s also a solid port. It’s strange that of the Oddworld games, the first game is also the last one to be re-released, but then by now, it’s been available everywhere else. If you’re new to the series and are looking for a challenging platformer with some puzzle solving then New ‘n’ Tasty could be the dish for you. If you’ve already got a copy of the game elsewhere, just be aware that the Switch version doesn’t add anything except another portable way to enjoy Abe’s Oddysee again.

Ultimately those little moments at the farm, bonding with the gang or appreciating the ambience, are how I think back on Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin. It’s action portions are also exceptionally well-executed, seamlessly tying together the hard work you put into your crops with the badass moves you get to execute out in the field. Its blend of action, farming sim and wholesome writing is one of 2020's many surprises but finally a welcome one.

Descenders is a top tier extreme sports game, translating the feeling of riding a bike down a hill with incredible precision. So many small design details pull the package together to provide a wonderfully kinetic experience.

Jackbox Party Pack 7 is another solid mix of games to through into rotation for your next social gathering. Quiplash 3 and Blather ‘Round are quick and simple options that anyone can pick up, and The Devil and the Details along with Talking Points are more complex games with plenty of replay value. Champ’d Up fails to live up to previous entertaining drawing games and has a pretty frustrating bug preventing full drawings from showing up properly. Overall, it’s a good collection of games that will please fans of the series, but I’m hoping that we soon get an option to export every pack into one collection for the ultimate party pack.