Whether you are arriving by horse and cart for the first time or have already courageously saved the world from destruction, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim continues to transcend the genre with its meticulous and phenomenal world-building. It’s that unending freedom to be anyone that you want to be, to go anywhere and be able to do anything that makes it such an engrossing world to exist in. And now that you can take that masterful experience anywhere on Nintendo Switch, it’s the perfect chance to become the Dragonborn.
With hundreds of rooms to invert gravity in and a freely open-world environment in which to search for your crew members, even failure and repeat deaths never detract from just how enjoyable VVVVVV is to play. Whether that’s thanks to the smile that’s (nearly) permanently etched on Captain Viridian’s face, the minimalistic but effective 8-bit graphics, or the magnificent chiptune soundtrack that has been penned by Swedish composer Magnus Pålsson, the game is just as brilliant now as it was eight years ago.
SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition is nothing short of strategic perfection, and a game that I’m glad to have seen board the Nintendo Switch so soon. Those looking for their tactical fix on the portable home console needn’t look any further than this, and it’s the best chance that you’ll have to conquer the stars with your motley steambot crew.
The Banner Saga 3 is a revelatory experience, at long last presenting answers to the questions that many have had since Rook first rallied clansmen to his banner in Skogr.
As you watch Yoku’s ball fling the dung beetle helplessly across Mokumana Island for the hundredth time, it’s hard not to come to the realisation that Yoku’s Island Express is a rare and special treat.
The Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion never lacks in the sheer spectacle of its creativity. It’s Nintendo at its best, for sure, taking what we have come to expect from Splatoon 2’s core experience only to throw the rulebook out the window to astound with freshly inked ideas. More, please.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is unrivaled in its scope and execution on Nintendo Switch to resoundingly deliver strategic perfection, whether at home or on the move. With a memorable cast of characters each with their own motivations – complemented with remarkable voice acting – it is the meticulous worldbuilding that elevates it to become one of the best games available on the portable home console. More than that, it's Fire Emblem at its very best.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is just as magical as it ever was, and, in being remade, has lost none of the charm that made the original so special in the first place.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder left me spellbound. Nintendo remains at the top of its game, and the Flower Kingdom is the perfect playground for its sprightly reinvention of what we have come to expect from setting out on a 2D side-scrolling adventure with Mario and his pals. This world of wonder comes crammed with the most whizz-popping surprises, making for a kaleidoscopic trip to the Flower Kingdom that is simply unmissable.
Even 20 years on, Mario vs. Donkey Kong’s ingenuity in its puzzle design shines through – its Toy Box delightfully crammed with surprising gameplay elements that I haven’t seen in the puzzle genre since. Now that Mini-Marios are a hot ticket product once more, we can only hope that we won’t have to wait so long for another fun-packed puzzling adventure for the whole family.
With Uruk-hai rallied to your side, this return to Middle-earth impresses in its fearless ambition but is soon let down by repetitive mission design.
Teslagrad is still as wonderful as the first time that I saw it through to conclusion, and the game’s release on Nintendo Switch is the perfect opportunity for those that have not had the chance to flee to the Tesla Tower to experience to see exactly how incredible it is.
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.
With your continued exploration eventually leading you to reach one of three endings based on your decisions, Elliot Quest is a lengthy game that welcomes repeat adventures. Whether you want to unlock all three through your own efforts or resort to checking them out on YouTube is entirely your own choice, but know that this is a suitably challenging game that leans heavily on a bygone era. It’s a homage worthy of your time, but be warned that it still carries the same flaws as its inspiration.
The tale that this first chapter in The Banner Saga weaves will have you gripped from start to finish. The player is left to exist in a world that has been meticulously crafted, whether that be the breathtaking art direction, the riveting efforts at world-building or the gameplay mechanics that underpin the experience.
Standing back and looking at the wider picture, Star Fox Zero succeeds far more than it falters. There are some terrific set pieces, the new Cockpit View lends more precision in taking down enemies for those chasing high scores, and the Star Wolf team are at last given chance to pose a menacing threat. The controls will be remembered as being divisive, but, for those that persevere, will soon marvel in this space shooter's spectacle.
That makes your quest for freedom in Wulverblade a memorable one, and while some balancing is needed to make it less of a frustrating experience and more one to be wholly savoured, it’s hard not to come to appreciate everything that this brutal, historical retelling has to offer.
From uncovering the remnants of an ancient civilisation to swerving through caverns overflowing with molten lava, forma.8 is a breathtakingly beautiful game that will astound at regular intervals. It’s the wondrous sense of discovery that sees it succeed, muddled in with some particularly exceptional puzzles.
Beneath its 16-bit look, Quest of Dungeons presents surprising depth and a worthwhile challenge to those that are willing to brave its neverending rooms. In learning through repetition, I’m sure that most will stand a chance at restoring light to the world.
Whether or not it will be a fighting game that will dominate the competitive scene for the next few years is impossible to say. But, whether you are a genre enthusiast, a Pokémon fan or just a gamer in general, Pokkén Tournament is an incredibly fun game with solid mechanics that can certainly hold their own.