Although its open world is wonderfully designed, Mario Kart World's undercooked Free Roam mode means it's not utilised to its fullest, turning what should have been an exciting new direction for the series into a disappointment. This is thankfully salvaged by the traditional Grand Prix, VS Race and Online modes, which are as brilliant as ever, and the exceptional new Knockout Tour battle royale, meaning the overall package is still well worth your time.
It presents a setting, characters and subject matter that aren’t frequently explored in this medium, and everything is presented so wonderfully that it absolutely deserves your attention. Much as I loathe the term “a great Game Pass game”, it truly is worthy of a few nights of your life if you’re subscribed to Microsoft‘s service.
With a string of improvements across all its existing modes, WWE 2K25 outdoes its predecessor in pretty much every way. The weak link is the new Island mode with its cynical pay-to-win mechanics, but throw a Cena taunt in its face and pretend it doesn't exist and you'll find more than enough elsewhere in the game to keep you entertained for months.
Split Fiction is visually streets ahead of its predecessor It Takes Two, but mechanically the two games are very similar. The game is occasionally in danger of verging into repetitive territory with its constant shifting between two main environments, but its healthy selection of varied side-stories and its constantly changing mechanics ensure its gameplay remains engaging and entertaining throughout, even if the same can't always be said for its story.
Fans of the Two Point series will already know that Two Point Museum is a silly but compelling simulation which is easy to learn but hides a surprising amount of depth and variety. The new expedition mode, despite feeling a tad lootboxy, nevertheless ensures that this isn't just Two Point Hospital or Campus with a new lick of paint, meaning while we'd heartily recommend it to newcomers, veterans who thoroughly rinsed its predecessors shouldn't worry about this just being more of the same.
Avowed is a solid action RPG with an entertaining script, satisfying combat and impressively detailed environments. The inability to clean up side quests after the main story is beaten can be frustrating, but take your time with it and enjoy everything it has to offer, and you'll find plenty of memorable moments.
The result is fun enough while it lasts, but is never wildly exciting enough to ensure you'll come back to it time and time again after the Championship mode is completed.
The awful music aside, Fitness Boxing 3 brings some much-needed variety to what could have been another by-the-numbers release with new songs and not much else. The Sit Fit Boxing and Mitt Drills modes give options to those who want to be less or more active respectively, and the extra trainer options are ideal for players who like to pretend they're dealing with an actual person. And even better, because Mitt Drills isn't rhythm-based, you can put your headphones on and listen to your own tunes.
Tetris Forever is an exceptional celebration of one of the most important series in video game history. Although factors outside of the developer's control means some of the most iconic versions of the game aren't available here, everything else – including the references to those games and one cheeky recreation – is handled with such attention to detail that this has to be considered the definitive telling of the Tetris story.
Sonic X Shadows Generations delivers a sturdy one-two punch of fan service, providing a solid remaster of a 2011 favourite and coupling it with a new game starring a fan favourite. The usual 3D Sonic platforming issues remain and the Shadow Generations open-world hub may annoy those who disliked Sonic Frontiers but overall it's a brilliant package.
The Smurfs - Dreams does almost everything right when it comes to delivering a solid, enjoyable, and creative platformer. With a wide variety of ideas, some lovely art design, and a gorgeously soothing soundtrack, only its short length and disappointing handheld picture quality prevent it from being considered one of the very best platformers on the Switch. Given its relatively affordable price, it really is worth a look for platforming fans of all ages.
Jamboree is one of the best Mario Party games to date, due to the sheer number of modes available and their general high quality. It still hasn't managed to shake some of the core issues of the series (especially when it comes to balancing the game for younger and less experienced players) but judged against previous entries it stands out as a top offering.
Silent Hill 2 is a skilfully handled retelling of one of the medium's most loved survival horror games. It stays faithful to the original (to a fault at times) but breathes enough new life into it to simultaneously ensure that long-time fans will appreciate the respect shown, while newcomers won't find it antiquated.
EA finally treated Switch owners to a feature-parity football game last year and EA Sports FC 25 continues this by adding the new modes also available on other systems. Rush, in particular, is a great new way to play a tighter, more action-packed version of football, and the expanded season rewards system means the game is less reliant on Ultimate Team – which is typically under-populated on Switch – to give players new tasks throughout the year. Performance is still underwhelming but this is otherwise the second solid entry in a row from EA.
Hot Lap Racing is too serious to be an arcade racer and its handling is too loose to be considered a serious simulation, but players looking for something that attempts to straddle a middle ground will get a kick out of its unique roster of cars and its dedication to the history of racing, despite its performance issues.
As the first entirely new Monkey Ball game in 12 years, fans of the series will at least be happy to have a selection of new stages to play through. Performance issues and a relatively sparse multiplayer offering prevent it from being considered among the best the series has to offer, however.
Sociable Soccer is a fun arcade-stye football game that plays like the complete opposite of the realism-focused EA Sports FC, and in doing so manages to be just as satisfying in an entirely different way despite its drawbacks. EA's big-budget game may be the equivalent of eating at a fancy restaurant, but sometimes you just want a burger, and Sociable Soccer is a delightful dose of fast food.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is one of the most unique-looking games you'll see on the Switch, and it's got the substance to back up the style. Its heavy emphasis on puzzles and its refusal to throw players a bone when they need help may not be to everyone's tastes, but anyone up for a mental challenge in what's essentially an elaborate escape room will love it.
Charming yet challenging, Paper Trail is a beautifully designed game that will have you perplexed by its page-folding puzzles. A generous hint system ensures players won't get so stuck that they get frustrated, while collecting all the origami is a task that will likely turn even the most ardent puzzle fan's brain to pulp.
Endless Ocean's procedural generation keeps its exploration engaging enough for a while, but its Story mode is poor. As long as you're willing to forgo plot (and any meaningful interaction with the species you encounter) in favour of exploring random underwater environments, there's still a good deal of fun to be had here.