Steve Watts
Mario & Luigi: Brothership tries to be a bigger, bolder version of the casual RPG series, but this top-heavy ship ultimately capsizes.
UFO 50 is a masterful compilation of retro-style games that invokes the sense of delightful discovery at the heart of the 8-bit era.
The Plucky Squire is a joyful, beautifully visualized adventure game, bursting with inventive ideas that will make you feel like a kid again.
Farewell North is a sweet-natured look at companionship and loss through the eyes of a very good boy.
SteamWorld Heist 2 takes a cult hit and expands it massively, without sacrificing its charm or making its systems overwhelming.
Nintendo World Championships is a fun introduction to competitive speedrunning with tons of nostalgia, even if its customization tools could be more robust.
Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is a rock-solid retro metroidvania that borrows some of the best aspects of its main inspirations.
Luigi's Mansion 2 HD isn't as essential as some other recent Switch remasters, but it's a charming look at how the ghostly adventure series found its footing.
The SCUBA simulator has relaxing chill vibes for a little while but quickly runs out of oxygen.
Pepper Grinder is a brief but frenzied platformer that finds myriad ways to build around its inventive central hook.
Princess Peach Showtime is a breezy exploration of genres aimed at novice gamers.
Contra: Operation Galuga reimagines just enough to feel modern without losing the original game's identity.
Penny's Big Breakaway is a loving homage that accurately captures what was both fun and awkward about the early days of 3D platformers.
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong brings the puzzle-platformer spin-off back to its roots, with clever improvements and a beautifully toyetic facelift.
Prince of Persia boldly reinvents itself as a metroidvania, and it feels like it has found its new home.
WarioWare: Move It maintains the series' zany sense of humor and experimentation, but it often asks more than the Joy-Con motion controls can handle.
This is the rightful successor to Super Mario World, and hopefully, will serve as a touchstone for 2D Mario going forward.
Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming adventure game for kids new to the mystery genre, but it's so gentle that adults may get Drowzee.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a bountiful blend of stealth, strategy, and swashbuckling.
Pikmin 4 is a pleasant, relaxing game that serves as a nice entry point for newcomers, with occasionally odd high-pressure segments.