10. Ori: The Collection
What’s better than playing one of the most beautiful platforming games of all time? Playing two of the most beautiful platforming games of all time! Ori: The Collection combines Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps into one package, both telling the story of Ori, a small white guardian spirit, who must explore and protect a mystical forest. With a mixture of pure platforming, puzzle-solving and a surprisingly moving story, these are two games that’ll stick with you long after you finish playing.
9. Kirby Star Allies
What makes Kirby Star Allies stand out from other recent platformers released by triple-A publishers is its heavy focus on local co-op. Up to four players can jump in and out of gameplay seamlessly, with players 2 to 4 taking the role of former enemies, who have been brainwashed by big cartoon hearts (it’s Nintendo, just roll with it). In a culture when gaming is becoming more isolated, this really does harken back to a time in which gaming was a more traditionally social pastime.
8. Paper Mario: The Origami King
The Paper Mario series has long been considered a cult fan favourite. Incorporating various RPG elements into the usual platforming formula, there’s a dedicated group of players who advocate them as some of the best Nintendo games ever. Paper Mario: The Origami King is the latest title to continue this legacy, thanks to its enchanting world and its charismatic inhabitants. If you’re a fan of more slow-burn exploration, we can’t recommend it enough.
7. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
This remake of the underrated Wii U title sees the titular ape at his side-scrolling best, with gorgeous animation coupled with satisfying if at times a little punishing gameplay. However, if you’re a fan of a more casual experience or just a bit crap, the brand new Funky mode lets you play as Donkey’s totally rad uncle Funky Kong, an experience which offers you more lives and greater resistance to damage. Proof that a surfboard can cure all of life’s ailments.
6. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
It’s time to start a brand new adventure as everyone’s favourite marsupial! Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time manages to recapture the magic of playing the original trilogy for the first time. It strikes the perfect balance between timeless, nostalgic gameplay and enough new innovations to create something truly special. It’s not just a worthy entry in the series, but dare we say the best yet.
It’s time to start a brand new adventure as everyone’s favourite marsupial! Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time manages to recapture the magic of playing the original trilogy for the first time. It strikes the perfect balance between timeless, nostalgic gameplay and enough new innovations to create something truly special. It’s not just a worthy entry in the series, but dare we say the best yet.
5. Yoshi’s Crafted World
Yoshi’s Crafted World is a really fun and charming platformer that is absolutely worth picking up. This new adventure takes everything you loved about side-scrolling games and turns it on its head. Playing alone or with friends, this game is a treat for the completionists out there with many collectables to hunt down through all of the adorable and challenging diorama-like levels it has to offer.
4. Super Mario 3D All-Stars
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of everyone’s favourite moustachioed plumber, Nintendo have released Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a collection of some of the crème de la crème of the series, featuring Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. Playing it is like seeing the games the way they were always intended to be seen. The timeless art style finally has the technical support to show them off in all their glory. Whether you’ve played them a million times or just picking them up for the first time, there’s never been a better time to delve into the best of the past.
3. Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 doesn’t change the winning formula of its predecessor too much, after all, there’s a certain satisfaction achieved from building your dream level that can’t be replicated by any other type of game. Yet, tucked away amongst all the creation modes is Story Mode, effectively a brand new Mario adventure in its own right, built from the styles of Mario games throughout the decades. This alone makes it worth picking up, but even if you don’t consider yourself particularly creative, there’s plenty of hours to be lost to the creation modes too.
2. Mario Odyssey
Mario Odyssey is a belter! Rather than resting on its laurels, Nintendo takes their moustachioed mascot and freshens him up in a new direction; new worlds, new mechanics and new challenges make playing it an absolute delight and a testament to the company’s expertise in game design.
1. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Super Mario 3D World was a standout title for the Wii U, offering all the classic 3D action from the Mushroom Kingdom we’ve come to expect from the series. And while it’s great now that it's available on the Switch, the real selling point of this package is the brand new Bower’s Fury mode. This sees you play as our moustachioed hero as he teams up with Bowser Jr. to defeat daddy Bowser, who’s been transformed into Fury Bowser by a mysterious inky substance. With a big open world to explore, new power-ups and abilities to try out, and the option for co-op action, this is a title you won’t want to miss.
