Revisiting these classics, more so after enjoying The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, has been a wonderful treat. They hold up beautifully on Nintendo Switch & Switch 2, retaining the high quality that they had on the original Nintendo Wii. Lack of accessibility options for motion controls and somewhat dated textures do little to sour what are stone-cold Nintendo classics. Stunning visuals, intuitive platforming that keeps you on your toes, and some of the best presentation in any 3D Mario adventure make this double pack a must-own for any Mario fan.
Overall, the SpongeBob SquarePants DLC pack for Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is the weakest release thus far. While the race course is fun to race on and many aspects of the show are well-realized for both the track and the racers, the lack of voice acting for SpongeBob and Patrick drags things down a little. They are a fun addition to the world of Sonic Racing, but their inclusion could’ve been better.
As the latest DLC release for Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, this pack offers great value for fans of the Mega Man series. The iconic blue bomber’s animation work is stellar, the race course is a blast with a unique gimmick, and even his Rush Chaser car is a great inclusion. I highly recommend this DLC pack if you love all things Mega Man!
After spending well over three hours with this DLC content, I loved my time with it. It reminded me why Art of Vengeance is one of 2025’s best games, and that quality continues with this lengthy DLC. For $10, this is a must-own for those longing for a real challenge.
In a world where JRPG’s are on the rise, it’s impressive to see the Monster Hunter Stories series continue to improve upon each installment. And the leap from Stories 2 is significant, putting the series on par with other juggernauts in the genre. Using deep turn-based combat mechanics, a strong narrative, and impressive production values, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection stands tall in what is a landmark year for Capcom as a publisher. Challenging difficulty, uneven level scaling, and minor performance problems do little to sour what is one of 2026’s best JRPG adventures.
When the original Disney Afternoon Collection was released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, it was surprising that the Switch was excluded. Classic platformers and adventure games are at home on Nintendo’s hybrid console, so the collection arriving on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is awesome. Containing everything the original release offered, the new modes and games cement the package as a loving homage to quality Disney video games from one of Japan’s best studios.
As a fan of the later titles, it was a treat seeing where it all began with Rayman 30th Anniversary. This classic 2D platformer, while flawed, holds up remarkably well in 2026. Great quality of life additions and a fantastic treasure trove of behind-the-scenes content make this a strong release despite the exclusion of the original soundtrack.
Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the greatest Nintendo platformers of all time, utilizing the strong foundation of Mario Odyssey. It moves the genre forward through its destructive terrain-based platforming and enjoyable transformation mechanics. This is an experience that justifies the Nintendo Switch 2, as a platform, and I can't wait to see what the future of Donkey Kong holds.
As a seasoned fan of 3D Platformers, Pac-Man World 2 RePac was a game I was eagerly looking forward to after it was revealed. Pac-Man is a series that could be so much more than fun arcade adventures. Strong reworked level design, tight platforming controls, challenging boss encounters, and a shockingly long post-game, alongside strong visuals and music, make this one meal you want a second course of.
As a casual fan of the Metroid series but familiar with past Prime titles, I went into Prime 4: Beyond expecting one of the best games of 2025. Retro Studios is infamous for creating some of the greatest games of all time. Metroid Prime is a classic, and their work on the modern Donkey Kong Country games speaks for itself. However, after completing my 15-hour adventure, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed in a few elements. The core Metroid Prime spirit is on full display in the game’s stunning art direction and outstanding musical score; it is also a showcase for Switch 2’s hardware. Sadly, though, some elements just don’t come together. A lackluster hub, unneeded padding, underutilized bike mechanics, and a disappointing conclusion dampen what is otherwise a solid first-person shooter and a strong start to a new series of adventures in the Metroid Prime series.
Combining a powerful musical score and striking presentation with tight puzzle-solving mechanics, Lumines Arise is a sleeper hit of 2025. Honoring the gameplay from the original Lumines while adding a robust suite of modes, this musical symphony of puzzles is one every fan of the genre shouldn't miss.
As someone who enjoyed their time with the original Yooka-Laylee, I was eager to see how Playtonic applied lessons learned from Impossible Lair and other modern platformers into this revisit of their original adventure. With a strong presentation, fantastic controls, improved gameplay, and a combined combo of improved progress and level design, Yooka-Replaylee is a fantastic experience. It is the realization of what the team at Playtonic set out to create back in 2017, and I’m eager to see what the team has in store for their next adventure for Yooka & Laylee.
Kirby & The Forgotten Land remains one of the best Switch games and this Switch 2 Edition only improves the experience. Adding performance and visual boosts and a new campaign that matches the quality of the main adventure, it's a worthy $20 upgrade. But for those entering Kirby's forgotten lands for the first time, it's a hefty asking price at $80. Even at that high price point, Kirby & The Forgotten Land SW2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is a fantastic 3D platformer I can recommend for returning fans and newcomers alike.
After playing many racers in the Sonic series, this is by far one of the best ones yet. Melding widely different racing styles together almost effortlessly, alongside adding its own innovations with the CrossWorld and Gadget mechanic, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds celebrates the Sonic franchise, and rival kart racers look for bananas in their tailpipes. Even some limitations with online play modes can’t slow down this high-speed race.
As an avid fan of the 3D platformer, the indie space is quickly growing into a thriving hot spot of the genre, with Ruffy & the Riverside joining the ranks of A Hat in Time and Poi. Utilizing a creative mechanic not seen in other 3D platformers, while having a strong identity and a striking art direction, Ruffy and Pip's adventure is a riverside worth visiting.
Playing Sonic X Shadow Generations, I loved the experience. However, I felt awful for Nintendo fans, who were treated to a subpar version of the latest 3D Sonic adventure. Following a bad port of Sonic Frontiers and a lackluster version of Sonic Colors Ultimate, more powerful hardware was needed to offer the ideal Sonic experience. Now we have that hardware, Nintendo fans can finally enjoy a fantastic 3D Sonic experience on the go. I cannot recommend Sonic X Shadow Generations enough if you have never experienced this high-speed adventure.
Accepting your past and moving forward after great loss are universal messages. Those messages are the heart of the adventure Once Upon a Puppet expresses. Drev and Nieve's journey, despite having some loose threads here and there, tells a powerful story utilizing solid platforming, strong presentation, and charming characters you grow to care for.
I was surprised how easily I rolled and jumped through jungles alongside DK and his buddies. Offering amazing platforming controls, tight level design that invites exploration, impressive usage of the foreground and background, and solid presentation that holds up generations later, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fantastic 2D platforming romp for everyone. While it doesn’t surpass the master class work Retro Studios created with its sequel, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, it’s still an adventure worth returning to.
As a fan of 3D platformers, it was a treat playing through Evil Raptor's Akimbot. Despite minor performance woes and a lack of weapon variety, my experience playing Exe and Shipset’s big adventure was enjoyable. Polished 3D platforming mixed with good gunplay, an enjoyable narrative, and a ton of polished gameplay variety, Akimbot is a platformer anyone who loves the PS2 era Ratchet or Jak games should not miss. I hope that Exe and Shipset can take off on another adventure in the future.
Spending many hours speeding through raceways, I can safely say this is more of a hole-in-one than a boogie. Strong game feel, enjoyable mechanics, and well-designed raceways give Turbo Golf Racing a firm place in the ball-focused racing genre.