Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight Switch eShop

$5.99 $14.99

The fourth in this series of 2D platformers, Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight is an absolute gem and comes highly recommended. Its stylised backdrops, super-smooth action and wonderfully rendered SNES-era graphics make it a standout Metroidvania - a superb game and a credit to the indie scene.

The only minor criticism comes from the soundtrack, which, while not bad, isn’t memorable and doesn’t always match the fantastic art. Overall, however, Reverie Under the Moonlight is a stunningly well-presented platformer with some of the most intuitive controls in the genre.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire Switch 2

$23.99 $29.99

Initially, we weren't sure how well the mixture of influences and styles was working, but it’s a testament to the attention to detail and polish that’s gone into the whole production that Mouse: P.I. For Hire achieves so much. The story takes a bit of time to become truly gripping, but it does so at the exact same time as the combat and style reach new levels of quality, and we couldn’t help but be impressed.

While we weren't stunned or in awe of the clue-collecting, this boomer shooter, with its 1920s-style animated influences, feels fresh and fun, and we only have praise for the whole team who produced it. This noir mystery is a great achievement. It takes risks, it’s challenging, it strives to be bold - and it works.

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Night In The Woods Switch eShop

$9.99 $19.99

Less of a game, and more of an interactive story with some light platforming and exploring to tie it all together, Night In The Woods is one of the most rewarding experiences you can play on Switch.

An indie curio better played for yourself than described by us, it will no doubt leave an impression with its enchanting soundtrack, disarming story, and instantly identifiable character arcs. Strange and wonderful in equal measure.

It should be noted that the controversy surrounding its troubled co-designer, including historical allegations of abuse prior to his passing, may affect your opinion and influence a purchase decision. As always, it's up to individuals to determine if they still wish to support a game, developer, publisher, or platform holder given the available information and wider context.

OneShot: World Machine Edition Switch eShop

$8.99 $14.99

A short, compelling point-and-click adventure originally developed in 2014, OneShot: World Machine Edition has an endearing, sombre story in which developer Future Cat makes you, the player, a character. The quest of Nico, a cat-like child, is framed as a game installed on a PC that functions as both a menu and narrative device and Niko will frequently break the fourth wall to address you by your Switch profile name as you guide her through a dying world.

Unlike the adventure games of two or three decades ago, none of the puzzles stumped us, yet the dopamine rush hit us all the same when things slid into place. Before we knew it, the credits rolled, and we sat back, pensive from its bittersweet ending. A Very Good Game™.

Orbitals Switch 2

$31.99 $39.99

Orbitals set out to do something very specific: deliver an action-packed co-operative game while building a new world inspired by anime classics. On those two notes, it smashes it out of the park. The puzzles not only last just the right amount of time, but we were consistently delighted by the clever ways the strict set of tools were utilised, and the many fun ways you interact with this fantastically realised anime world.

Our main complaint is that we wanted much more of it, and while the gameplay itself feels perfectly paced, the somewhat abrupt ending left us wishing more time was spent establishing the stakes and motivations of the story.

Ultimately, Orbitals is a truly phenomenal co-operative title and one of the best ways to spend an evening with a friend this year. With phenomenal visuals, thrilling mechanics, and the brilliant characters and story, this is the new high bar for co-op games.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus Switch eShop

$4.99 $19.99

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is everything that fans of the classic arcade game could want out of a legacy sequel, focusing on delivering a pure, high-speed realisation of the concept that was introduced way back in 1980. Between the single player and multiplayer modes, there’s enough content here for hours of play, and it’s all endlessly replayable. We would give this game a strong recommendation to anyone that enjoys the easy-to-learn, difficult-to-master gameplay that you typically find in an arcade game; PCE2 has it in spades.

Pentiment Switch eShop

$9.99 $19.99

Pentiment is a fantastic adventure RPG that revels in a studious approach to history and immaculate recreations of the styles and traditions of 16th-century Bavaria. There's a super smart, funny, and engaging murder mystery to investigate here, but it's how that mystery is so fully rooted in the world that's been lovingly crafted around it that really elevates this experience.

It's one of the best games of the past decade, hands down, and to have it running and performing perfectly on Switch is a joyous thing — it feels like it was made for Nintendo's console. This is about as essential as games get.

Persona 5 Royal Switch

$17.99 $59.99

Persona 5 Royal is the very definition of ‘required reading' for JRPG fans.

A deep and moving story, stylish presentation, amazing soundtrack, and decision-driven gameplay all combine to make for an unforgettable and exceptional experience that proves itself to be every bit deserving of the hype and praise it’s already received.

While those who have played this elsewhere may want to consider whether Switch's portability is enough to justify a full-price double dip, it suits the system perfectly. Persona 5 Royal easily stands as one of the very best RPGs of the last decade and you’d be doing yourself a disservice to miss out.

Persona 5 Tactica Switch

$17.99 $59.99

Persona 5 Tactica is a thrillingly varied tactical RPG that fans of the Phantom Thieves and the genre should take note of. It's a little on the easy side, but the varied gameplay, excellent soundtrack, striking visuals, and lovable characters all make for a very easy recommendation.

We’d especially suggest you pick this up if you really enjoyed Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, as we noticed a lot of parallels. It remains to be seen if this is the last time we’ll be seeing the Phantom Thieves don their masks, but if this does turn out to be their finale, Persona 5 Tactica is a massively enjoyable sendoff for the beloved crew.

Please, Touch The Artwork Switch eShop

$1.99 $7.99

Please, Touch The Artwork is an excellent little puzzler that cleverly combines intuitive, pensive puzzle mechanics with art history and humour to create an interactive exhibit you really shouldn't miss out on.

If you've got any interest in modern art whatsoever, you're sure to enjoy this gem, but even puzzle fans who don't know their Picassos from their Pollocks would do well to browse these galleries. There's really nothing else to say. Do what the title says.

Quake Switch eShop

$3.99 $9.99

Quake returns in a feature-rich remaster that delicately updates the classic FPS, adding lots of optional bells and whistles, packing in a ton of content, and delivering the definitive way to play this masterpiece in the process.

There's a wealth of online and co-op options here, a glorious new expansion to blast through from MachineGames, super slick performance in both docked and handheld modes, and it's all available at a cracking price point.

This really is a stellar port of one gaming's true greats and an absolutely essential addition to your Switch library.

Quake II Switch eShop

$3.99 $9.99

Quake II arrives on Switch in the form of one of the very best remasters we've ever had the pleasure of digging into.

With enhanced graphics and audio, refined AI, all-new animations, the iD Vault, a brand new episode, and all previously released DLC in the mix — plus the N64 version — this is an exhaustive package that Quake fans are absolutely gonna eat up.

Add in crossplay support, gyro controls, and lots of co-op and competitive ways to play locally and online, and you've got an outstanding release.

R-Type Delta: HD Boosted Switch

$13.99 $24.99

A true arcade game that never was, and confined to the PlayStation until now, shoot-'em-up fans will adore what’s in store. A seminal work that has never looked better, R-Type Delta, with its boundless creativity and exacting design, stands out not just amongst its peers, but as perhaps the best R-Type the series ever produced.

Yes, it’s still crazy tough, and no quick restarts or scene-skipping is painful, but this new HD revamp is by far the best way to play it. If you’re itching for a shoot-'em-up experience of note, this will make your year.

Radiant Silvergun Switch eShop

$7.99 $19.99

Radiant Silvergun remains, despite its uncompromising nature, deservedly celebrated. The game wears its hardcore credentials on its sleeve, and its depth in both technical and artistic terms is astonishing. As stimulating and rewarding as it is exhausting, it’s a labour that has transcended not only the genre but the medium to some degree.

Regardless of its difficulty — and in that difficulty, its lack of immediate connection — those who learn to fell the game proper can say they truly lived Radiant Silvergun. That’s an experience worth fighting for.

Reanimal Switch 2

$31.99 $39.99

With Reanimal, Tarsier Studios delivers its darkest, boldest work yet. Expanding on the Little Nightmares formula with non-linear exploration, striking audiovisual design, and bombastic set pieces, this is an imaginative horror experience that confidently delivers its vision while offering accessible co-op play that fans of the developer have long clamoured for.

Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked Switch eShop

$20.99 $29.99

Rocket Knight Adventures is a series comprising two fine games and one stellar, timeless piece of work. While the sequels are above average for '90s platform gaming, it’s the series debut that really informs this review’s score. Rocket Knight Adventures is a title that sits comfortably alongside Gunstar Heroes in the pantheon of exceptional games overlooked in their heyday.

It does everything an arcade action adventure needs to, and more, outdoing a vast number of actual arcade games in the process. Its constantly evolving stages, incredible variety of scenarios, and driving cinematic soundtrack make it one of the best of its kind. If that’s not the very definition of underrated, we don’t know what is.

Sky Rogue Switch eShop

$9.99 $19.99

While it lacks any storyline and the randomised nature of the missions may strike some as lazy, arcade-style dogfighter, Sky Rogue has plenty of gameplay where it counts. The jet combat action is superb, aided by excellent controls, a wide range of weapons and plenty of stuff to unlock.

The 12-stage campaign mode will keep you coming back for quite some time — thanks largely to the unique roguelike approach where death means losing everything, but the experience gained means a better chance of success next time around — and the ability to rope in a friend in co-op adds even more longevity.

Granted, when you do eventually complete the game, there's not a great deal to bring you back, but it will take quite some time and effort to reach that point – and you'll have had such a blast you won't feel short-changed.

Sonic Mania Switch eShop

$7.99 $19.99

Sonic Mania was a true return for the mascot's 2D 'Classic' guise. It celebrates the glory days of the original games while also enhancing their qualities and taking on new ideas. From new areas, imaginative second acts, and some delightful boss encounters, the development team poured a lot of passion and talent into this retro-styled project.

With new characters and modes added in the 'Plus' retail version (also available as DLC), some neat tweaks iron out some of the kinks present in the original release. Regardless of the version you pick up, Mania is one of the best 2D platformers in recent memory.

Spelunky 2 Switch eShop

$9.99 $19.99

Spelunky 2 is a masterclass in great roguelite game design, expertly combining crushing difficulty with a steady drip of new secrets and lessons to keep you coming back for more. Some may be put off by the steep challenge — this is certainly a game you have to work for a bit — but putting in the effort is sure to reward you with plenty of thrilling memories.

STALKER: Call of Prypiat Switch eShop

$13.39 $19.99

Call of Prypiat is the most refined experience of the STALKER trilogy. Everything from the HUD to the survival mechanics has been optimised to give the best experience for would-be Stalkers. Visible status icons and an on-screen quickslot view mean going into menus less frequently.

The shooting is still fantastic, with minor refinements of Chornobyl and Clear Sky's system making this the smoothest bullet thrower of the bunch. It’s worth noting that the generous assist options present on these versions mitigate the series' notorious fiddly aiming, too.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster Switch eShop

$14.99 $29.99

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster brings back this 1995 'Doom clone' in style — another resounding success for Nightdive Studios (who also handled the excellent Quake and Quake II remasters, among others). It returns LucasArts' curious, nostalgia-laced FPS with loads of new bells and whistles, including enhanced gameplay, revamped visuals, and a wealth of accessibility options.

This is easily the best way to experience Dark Forces and revisit an oft-forgotten era of Star Wars before the prequel trilogy - and before the sequel trilogy booted the Expanded Universe out the 'Legends' airlock.

Steredenn: Binary Stars Switch eShop

$3.89 $12.99

Steredenn: Binary Stars is a fantastic game that does a great job of providing an experience that feels simultaneously classic and modern. Its high difficulty, rewarding gameplay, endless variety, and beautiful presentation make this an essential buy for any fans of the genre, and a high recommendation for those who aren’t.

If you’re looking for a tightly made arcade game that can be played both in short bursts and for hours on end, here's yet another one for your list.