There is something inherently magical about I Am Setsuna. This throwback to the past is a memorable one, that, despite the game's simplicity, Tokyo RPG Factory's reliance on traditional design results in an experience that rediscovers an age old mastery in the genre.
Jack of all trades but master of none, Mario Sports Superstars impresses more on paper than when exploring what each sport has to offer. The idea is sound, but, whatever the reason, the result soon meanders away from the road to superstardom.
How appropriate it is, then, that Breath of the Wild will be remembered as a legend in its own right and, perhaps, the greatest game that Nintendo has ever created. Never has a world impressed me so much.
Whether munching a sandwich or milking a cow, allow yourself to get lost in the silliness and 1-2-Switch soon becomes the perfect party game with friends. There are clear shortcomings, but there is enough to entertain and the game serves its purpose well in opening your eyes to what potential the Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch have in tandem.
Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World is the greatest thing to have happened to wool since knitting was discovered by the Egyptians. Aside from the necessary visual downgrade, it comes as a welcome surprise that the unbeatable platformer is so faithfully recreated on Nintendo 3DS. Don't miss it.
This is the Dragon Quest experience that you have been waiting for, woven around a captivating tale and a wondrous world in which to tell it. This becomes another unmissable addition to the impressive RPG library that the Nintendo 3DS has built, kicking the year off with a jubilant fanfare.
Picross e7 is an enjoyable iteration on Jupiter's Nintendo eShop series and packs enough content to keep players busy for weeks on end. But, it continues to lack new ideas which is a problem suffered by the entries that came before it.
Packed with content that will constantly wrack your brain, Picross 3D: Round 2 expands on everything that has come before in meaningful ways to deliver an unmissable puzzle experience.
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS continues to delight with wacky and unexpected creations. It falters in not looking to foster an online community of its own but remains the perfect construction kit to live out your Mushroom Kingdom dreams.
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon deliver the most striking evolution that the series has ever seen. This is the most ambitious that Game Freak has ever been, and the Alola region's tropical paradise is all the better for it. Basked in sunshine, this is an adventure that celebrates everything that we have come to love about the series, while delivering a truly innovative Pokémon experience that successfully redefines it for a new generation.
Paper Mario: Color Splash isn't the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door successor that many still resolutely hold out for, but that day may never come. But, the adventure that unfolds is a remarkable one, and joyously memorable for all the right reasons.
It has been three years since Island Tour, and in that time Nintendo has clearly learned more about making the most out of their ageing portable. Mario Party has never felt more exciting, and, especially when friends are in on the chaos, Star Rush shows that the party isn't over for the Mushroom Kingdom.
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice successfully builds on the lessons that were learned from identifying Shattered Crystal's faltered mistakes. With flashes of near brilliance, the sense of speed becomes an unrivalled thrill, even if that is best seen in the few Bot Racing stages. Brevity is the game's pitfall, but we expect some would argue that they would rather have a shorter, more polished adventure than a lacklustre, lengthier experience.
Fragments of the Forgotten Past thrives in its adventurous spirit, an unforgettable quest that finds strength in the memorable collection of short tales that the player becomes part of.
There is immeasurable depth to Terraria, a 39-strong list of accomplishments helping to objectify the experience that dares to brave it. Richly rewarding at every turn thanks to the developer's unrestrictive design, it excels in freedom - the player let loose on their own adventure to quell the monstrous creatures that inhabit the world around them.
If there is one thing that Metroid Prime: Federation Force is left to contend with, it is consumer apathy. It is undeserving of such disinterest, an enjoyable intergalactic romp that delivers an experience unlike any other on Nintendo 3DS. This may not be the Metroid adventure that many had hoped for, but it is a rewarding blast for those that are willing to see the beloved universe from another perspective.
Return to PopoloCrois: A Story Of Seasons Fairytale is brimming with charm and personality, and amounts to an adventure that will long linger in your memory after its conclusion.
Pocket Card Jockey is packed with Game Freak's wondrous charm and character. It heartily succeeds in marrying together two pastimes, which comes as a surprise given that they are such polar opposites. It captivates and baffles in equal measure, but, with a thunderous sound of hooves, charges over the line with a near-perfect finish.
Monster Hunter Generations remains an experience that excites most in the thrill of the chase, wrestling with once proud beasts as you bring them to their knees. It presents an adventure of a lifetime, and continued evolution of the core idea results in an experience that rewards at every turn.
It may be all smiles on the beach that your Mii runs around, but Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is a game that's criticism falls on everything that it lacks. The joy of local multiplayer can still reward with hilarity, but the experience falls short in nearly every other area. The Mario & Sonic series still shows plenty of promise, but that is a momentary flicker here.