40. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch)

This beautiful Switch remake of the classic Game Boy entry rebuilt everything from the ground up, and would be a good entry point for younger players into the Zelda series.

On top of the beautiful new art style, it added modern conveniences, a dungeon creator, amiibo support, and lots of little quality-of-life improvements whilst infusing every single square inch of Koholint – every secret passage, Piranha, Pokey, and Pig Warrior – with a level of detail and depth that totally reinvigorated both its timeless story and classic Zelda gameplay for a new generation.

If there's anything holding The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening back, frame drops may distract you from the otherwise absorbing gameplay, especially in docked mode. It's a little thing — and something smoothed out on Switch 2, thankfully — but with the heritage of technical wizardry behind the Game Boy original, imperfect performance is a dent in this game's otherwise glistening armour.

39. Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U)

Xenoblade Chronicles X is sprawling, diverse, complex, and entrancing. It utilised the Wii U's capabilities not only to produce a beautiful world, but also showed how having a simple map on the GamePad screen can be invaluable.

What's most impressive is the dynamism and impression of freedom in play - level caps and grinding are naturally part of the equation, yet they're managed within a structure where even small missions or Affinity quests greatly enhance the narrative and sense of place. To truly experience the story of this human colony and the vast planet Mira requires exploration and patience, and Monolith Soft found a great balance in bringing its vast range of gameplay systems and mechanics together.

Occasional bottlenecks are infrequent and easily overcome in the broader experience. Xenoblade Chronicles X delivered a hugely impressive RPG adventure, an enormous accomplishment for Monolith Soft, and an irresistible part of the Wii U library. What a treat that more people get to play it on Switch with the Definitive Edition.

38. Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy IX is a good reminder of why this franchise has remained an RPG institution over the years. Its medieval-style setting makes it a fun nostalgia trip for fans of the older series entries — or players fed up with all the futuristic Final Fantasies — acting as a callback to the classics.

Memorable characters, a wacky story, deep character customisation, and plenty of incredible environments make a strong case for why Final Fantasy IX deserves a spot on your Switch’s SD card, even if some elements haven't aged particularly well. But with some of the series' best characters, one of the best stories, and a wonderful world to explore, Final Fantasy IX deserves to be played by anyone who loves turn-based RPGs.

37. Pokémon Black and White (DS)

Pokémon Black and White may not have the added nostalgia of HeartGold and SoulSilver, but they're up there with some of the best in the series. What they lack in links to the past they gain by recreating the sense of discovery felt when embarking on that first Pokémon journey.

Black and White arguably suffer in reputation from being the only games in the series (thus far) to have direct numbered sequels set in the same region, albeit visiting new locations. Despite being shoved to the back of the queue in some people's minds, these introductions to Gen V are still fantastic games and well worth revisiting.

36. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Boasting perhaps the most colourful box art ever created, Super Mario 3D World is bursting at the seams with cuteness, creativity and catsuits. While it might lack the unbridled freedom of Mario's other 3D adventures, it provides a terrifically enjoyable, tight and impeccably structured adventure.

With a focus on bringing fans of the 2D games into the realm of 3D Marios, it recalls the mascot’s 3D heritage while providing the perfect starting point for novices. It's also the only 3D Mario to offer four-player co-op.

Super Mario 3D World is simply unmissable and prior to its reappearance on Switch, we'd have said it was worth hunting down a Wii U to play. The additional Bowser's Fury content of the newer version — plus various gameplay tweaks and the addition of online and local wireless play — arguably gives the Switch edition the edge in a head-to-head battle.

Still, the original Wii U experience remains one of the console's highlights, so why not grab yourself a copy and just sit with it on your lap as you admire the box art and run your forefinger around the curved edge of the disc? The Switch cart doesn't have that, does it? Meow!

35. Pikmin 3 (Wii U)

Beautifully crafted and filled to the brim with exciting gameplay features, Pikmin 3 is a worthy instalment in Nintendo's quirky strategy series.

The core gameplay mechanics remain true to the GameCube originals, but were further enhanced by the unique features of the Wii U GamePad, although you could still use your Wii Remote and Nunchuk (honestly, the 'Deluxe' Switch port offers further proof that the GamePad really was a peripheral option here).

A few minor issues here and there arguably prevented it from reaching the heights of its predecessors, but the Wii U's HD sheen made the fruit hauled by your little plant-based helpers look more delicious than ever.

34. Splatoon 2 (Switch)

Splatoon 2 is just about everything you could ask for from a sequel. It builds on everything the original online team shooter set up and then some; almost every single major issue people had with the first game has been resolved, showing that Nintendo genuinely listens and wants to deliver the absolute best experience possible.

Maintaining the freshness you’d expect and throwing in countless big and small changes and additions — every one of them for the better — Splatoon 2 is simply... wait for it... ink-redible.

33. Astral Chain (Switch)

With its amazing visuals, fantastic presentation, varied gameplay, and deep, rewarding combat, Astral Chain is one of PlatinumGames' most accomplished titles. It mixes detective work with exhilarating battle sequences that are inventive, challenging and — perhaps most importantly — breathtakingly cool.

The complexity of the game's myriad systems may prove intimidating for some players, but the inclusion of a co-op play and the ability to automate many of the mechanics via the 'Unchained' mode means that even complete newcomers can still enjoy the ride.

Astral Chain isn't just one of the Switch's standout hits, it's one of Platinum's best video games.

32. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)

This revival of Rare's treasured Donkey Kong Country series came after developer Retro Studios had successfully reinvented Nintendo's Metroid as an exploratory first-person shooter, so we shouldn't have been surprised that the team was able to recapture the spirit of that 16-bit platformer series three console generations later with Donkey Kong Country Returns. However, just how good the 2010 game turned out still came as a big shock.

The 3DS port was equally impressive, although having played the excellent Tropical Freeze, it's tougher to return (ahem) to Returns these days, even Forever Entertainment's Switch port which combines the two versions into an HD dish with the tiniest dusting of tweaks.

Still, when it comes to resurrections, Retro was Nintendo's go-to studio for a long minute there and DKC swung back in fabulous form on Wii.

31. Bayonetta 2 (Wii U)

Bayonetta 2 is a must-buy for action gaming fans. It's fast, intense and ridiculous, all with an entertaining story and a protagonist who is forever subverting and playing with her audience. It's pure Platinum Games, and one of the Wii U's best games — a rare arrival on that system that was unashamedly violent, gory and mature, while still mischievously winking at the player.

Of course, the Switch port is the easier way to play it these days, but regardless of platform, Bayonetta 2 is brilliant, brash, and impossible to ignore.