- Exclusives -
Splatoon 2. It's the only game here that I don't have any real 'buts' about. It's just a solid game that I come back to regularly just to have a few matches because it's always fun. The single player campaign is also brilliant, as is the Octo Expansion, and I feel like they stepped it up with Marina and Pearl in terms of giving the games mascots some actual personality (as well as giving Calli and Marie some more personality). Best of all, it's an experience I can only get from Splatoon. The only other game that does what Splatoon 2 does is Splatoon 1.
Pokemon Shield. Regardless of how lazy the game feels and the absolute opinion that Game Freak could have done better (well, maybe I don't think Game Freak could do better... but Pokemon deserves better), I still loved playing it. It felt different in many ways to previous games and seemingly like it leaned a bit more into the absurdity and fantasy of the world, whether that be the Pokeball head guy, Gyms being soccer themed, the beautiful glowy mushroom area or that absolutely banging gym battle theme (made even better when you gigamax and the crowd chants along). I also felt it had a stronger lineup of new Pokemon for me, where I usually only like a very small handful of new additions.
Mario Odyssey. Just a brilliant platformer. I do sit on the opinion that there were far too many moons which made the base game a tad too easy, but it doesn't cancel out the sheer fun of the game and the tightness of the plethora of mechanics you're given to play around with.
Fire Emblem Three Houses. Narratively it isn't my favorite FE game at all, but the cast!? Also not my favorite actually, generally I found the characters a bit bland and often irritating...But the game itself? I had a lot of reservations with the changes made and whilst I DO think the default difficulty was too easy (never before have I gotten to the end of a FE with no deaths...And no resets) and that whole castle/school thing can go away, the mechanics of the core game were just pure fun. It's definitely a game I'll pick up time after time just to have fun with the gameplay, which is the best I can hope for with a game.
- Honorable mention -
Monster Hunter Rise. It's only an honorable mention as it's still sat waiting to be played as I promised my partner we would play it together. That said, even having not played it, every Monster Hunter game has been one of [if not, my overall] favorite game for every console that's had a release of it.
- Wii U ports -
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze. This is just a masterclass of 2D platforming. Challenging BUT absolutely fair, I've never failed and felt like it wasn't entirely my fault. The art design is also superb, especially with the level design with each level telling a narrative through their backgrounds and obstacles.
It saddens me that the recent Donkey Kong games haven't earned more success in comparison to something like the """new""" Super Mario Bros games which in comparison feel extremely sterile, lacking and devoid of the typical Nintendo 'pizazz'.
Xenoblade Chronicles. Definitely one of my overall favorite RPG's. The mechanics are fun and unique, the art design is memorable, there isn't a single character I would sell my soul for the chance to kick their teeth in (rare for a JRPG). The definitive edition solves the one issue I had with the original though in that I couldn't play it for more than an hour with the Wii's blurry video output giving me migraines.
Mario Kart 8. It's just more Mario Kart, ain't it. Does what you expect.
