At first glance, The Outer Worlds on Nintendo Switch falls massively short of the bar set by other ports to the hybrid console. Everything has been scaled back in an effort to get it working as smoothly as possible on the machine, but there are still major problems with how the game performs. Even so, I found myself still having a lot of fun playing The Outer Worlds on the Nintendo Switch, which is a testament to just how brilliant this game truly is.
Regardless of your history with the series, the XCOM 2 Collection is an enticing offer for strategy fans. With the game bundled together with its sizeable War of the Chosen expansion, plenty of DLC and the option of playing while on the toilet, this is probably the best way you can choose to play XCOM 2.
Whether you're looking to carve your way downhill at breakneck speed or you want to show off your best tricks, Shred! 2 – ft Sam Pilgrim is more than capable of fulfilling your dreams of becoming a downhill legend.
Deliver Us The Moon really surprised me. It's a bit rough around the edges, but it's a fantastic sci-fi thriller that kept me gripped throughout. Deliver Us The Moon is a stellar experience which will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Below is a unique experience that blends some of the most popular gameplay mechanics seen this generation into a hauntingly beautiful and ferocious journey of death, redemption and survival. Even with the new Explore Mode making the game more accessible, Below's obtuse nature won't be to everyone's tastes, but the process of discovering and mastering the game's numerous systems is a vastly enjoyable one.
Warlords of New York is a welcome addition to The Division 2 and it probably marks the most fun I've had with the series to date. While some content falls a little flat, each one of the special encounters is a manic and explosive experience that will bring you to the edge of your seat. The quality of life changes, including the refined loot systems, also breathe life back into one of last year's more enjoyable looter-shooter titles.
The Touryst is an absolutely stellar action-adventure game that sends players on a whirlwind journey of mini-games, puzzle solving and scenic vistas all bundled in one of the most visually impressive engines to date on the Switch.
Dusk Diver is a game that promises a lot with it's gorgeous visuals, but the combat ultimately falls short. Its basic combo system and missable story are not enough to even come close to some of this year's stellar action titles.
Cat Quest 2 is a fun and simple experience that's designed to be enjoyed on the settee with friends and family. It's not as complex or vast as some of action RPG titles, but it's one that is enjoyable from start to finish.
A lot of love and time has gone into Children of Morta, and the level of polish and complexity across its narrative and gameplay make it one of the most interesting roguelites to date. The difficulty curve and relative brevity of its story may put some off, but Children of Morta is a beautifully crafted, polished roguelite that deserves your attention.
Wreckfest is a surprising triumph in blending the best that sim and arcade racers have to offer in an explosive and visually gratifying package. A few visual issues and overly aggressive AI do little to spoil one of the best driving games of 2019.
At its core, Outer Wilds is a game about exploration, knowledge and experimentation. It's the sum of all those parts and more, perfectly blending them together to create one of the most fascinating games of this generation. Outer Wilds proves a micro - as opposed to a macro - take on space exploration works just as well, if not better.
To say Trover Saves the Universe is a good VR game would be an understatement. It perfectly blends over-the-top comedy and solid combat while making the most of the VR technology at hand by dragging players into the world and making them centre of the story. Its brand of comedy will not be to everyone's liking, but I still think Trover Saves the Universe stands on its own as one of the best VR games released to date.
Akane is a game that does one thing and does it exceptionally well; its biggest flaw is that there simply isn't enough of it. Give me more damn it!
For the flaws that it has, Fade to Silence is an ambitious game that provides a unique experience in a crowded genre. The world is stark, cold and unwelcoming, and there's a discomposing atmosphere that always puts you on edge. Fade to Silence isn't for everyone, but for those who want to experience a harsh, unforgiving world, this is just the ticket - just don't rush into permadeath mode right away.
Vane is a strange game. Its art direction and visual design frame a grandiose, otherworldly affair, but its puzzle design and narrative squash those expectations, ultimately providing a frustrating experience with fragments of its original vision.
Kingdom Two Crowns feels more like an extensive update than a new entry to the series, but the base game is still so immensely enjoyable that it doesn't really matter. This is the perfect starting point for new players, and those who are returning might still be surprised by some of the secrets to be found.
Guacamelee! 2 is a worthy sequel
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is an exceptional take on the tactical RPG and the addition of a stealth system certainly sets it apart from the crowd. Both genres blend together in a way that's satisfying, challenging and well designed, while an engaging and well-written narrative drives the player forward. The difficulty might be an issue for those new to the genre, but for those seasoned in turn-based tactics, this is an absolute must buy.
Darksiders III, while more limited in scope than its predecessor, provides a tighter, more deliberate experience that elaborates on the lore we've seen so far. The smaller world of Darksiders 3 may disappoint some fans of the previous game, but this feels like a reboot of the series. Poor PC performance, a lack of side-objectives and some unimaginative world-design point to a game with ambitions bigger than its budget, but Darksiders II is a fun and challenging experience that kept me engaged across the length of its story.