I wish A Hat in Time and Spyro Reignited Trilogy were higher, being the 3D platforming buff that I am, but it was interesting to see them right next to each other on the list. Not sure which I prefer, as Spyro is special because it is a beloved childhood classic, but A Hat in Time was a fresh new experience I hadn't played before on other platforms. Both games suffer from optimization issues on Switch, but that didn't stop them from being stellar experiences and easily two of my favorite games of the year.

Also, I can't possibly comment here without giving a shout-out to Cuphead, which very quickly cemented itself as one of my favorite video games of all time. I love boss fights, and, even more than that, I love the art of animation; Cuphead delivers on both of these fronts in spades. It's the only game I've ever purchased for PC, despite having to play through the whole thing with a keyboard, and I thought it was just a pipe dream that I would ever play it on my Switch.

Lastly, I just received Dragon Quest 11 as a Christmas present I asked for. I'm not into RPGs at all with the exception of the Mario ones, but I am thoroughly enjoying this game. I've already invested over 6 and a half hours into this game because I just can't put it down. Traversing the world feels like a Zelda game, and while Breath of the Wild has spoiled me and I get frustrated with all the invisible walls that keep me from exploring, Dragon Quest 11 is a real treat. Battles are simplistic enough for a complete RPG noob to grasp--unlike something like Xenoblade, which intimidates me--yet they're still challenging and engaging. I don't know if grinding is necessary, but when I'm gaining dozens of experience points at a time, I find myself unable to stop battling. This could end up being one of my favorite games of the year, I can't wait to see how it all plays out.