Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are comfortably nostalgic, with just enough modern tweaks to smooth over the rough edges.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a solid collection of mental exercises, but the focus on competition loses the game some of its friendly, self-improvement vibe.
Grapple Dog is a light, breezy mascot platformer that hooks you with precise, simple controls.
Mario Strikers: Battle League has all the makings of a great sports game, but there's not much there right now.
PowerWash Simulator is a novel and soothing chore-core game that only occasionally breaks up its own relaxing flow.
Splatoon 3 isn't quite as novel the third time around, but a great campaign, tons of multiplayer options, and a few new surprises make it much more of a good thing.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe brings a cheerfully gentle Wii-era platformer to Nintendo Switch with smart additions and a big new epilogue.
Aloy returns to explore the wreckage of Los Angeles, and it's just the right amount of Horizon to scratch that itch.
Pikmin 4 is a pleasant, relaxing game that serves as a nice entry point for newcomers, with occasionally odd high-pressure segments.
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong brings the puzzle-platformer spin-off back to its roots, with clever improvements and a beautifully toyetic facelift.
Penny's Big Breakaway is a loving homage that accurately captures what was both fun and awkward about the early days of 3D platformers.
Princess Peach Showtime is a breezy exploration of genres aimed at novice gamers.
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.
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.
Farewell North is a sweet-natured look at companionship and loss through the eyes of a very good boy.
The 2010 franchise revival gets a makeover and some modern conveniences, but wild difficulty spikes make it tough to recommend for anyone but the most dedicated DKC fan.
The turtle boys don't cut 'em no slack in a short but sweet tactics game that feels like the foundation for something much bigger.
LittleBigPlanet 3 makes some serious revisions to the formula, but somehow still feels like it's following a set design pattern.
The Marvel fan-service, along with the constant small moments of delight and whimsy, more than make up for a few remaining weak spots.