Console generations are generally thought to last about half a decade, which is what makes today's Switch anniversary so momentous. Nintendo's hybrid home-handheld console turns five today, and it shows no signs of slowing down: Though rumors persist, there's no announced plans for a new console on the horizon. The most we've gotten are two redesigns -- the Switch Lite and the OLED Switch -- and the expansion of Nintendo Switch Online to include more classic console games. But while it's certainly fun to revisit old favorites like Super Mario Bros., Kirby's Adventure and Earthbound, it's the games made for the Switch that have captured the hearts of the Engadget crew, along with a few other titles that made their debuts elsewhere but really shined on Nintendo's portable system. Regular Engadget readers know there's no way I would let a "favorite Switch games" post pass without even one Animal Crossing: New Horizons mention.

The idea behind the Short Play column was to recommend games that anyone could finish in a weekend, because people finishing games turns out to be a surprisingly rare occurrence. And the longer a game gets, the more difficult it becomes. We've recommended 26 different short games over the last year, but if you are looking for the best of the best, here are six games that have stood out from the rest for one reason or another. And they're short enough that you might even be able to finish them all before the end of the year. Video games have long tried to adapt techniques from film for storytelling purposes to varying degrees of success.

Apple released its picks for the best apps and games of 2019 at an event in New York City on Monday. It also identified what it deemed were the most important trends that drove app development in the past year -- namely reimagined franchises (like Pokémon Masters and Minecraft Earth) and apps that allow for easy content creation (like Anchor and Wattpad). "We are excited to announce such a diverse group of 2019 App Store winners, showing that great design and creativity comes from developers large and small, and from every corner of the world," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. Here are Apple's picks for best apps and games of 2019 -- at least on Apple devices. Making books, magazines or other layout-heavy projects requires serious publishing software, but often comes at a high cost.

E3's wide variety of games in development includes creations that offer players an alternative from the typical action-adventures and online battles. LOS ANGELES -- Hundreds of video games are headed toward TVs, console systems, computer displays and mobile devices in the coming months. Of course, that means impending releases from longtime favorite franchises such as "The Legend of Zelda,""Star Wars" and "Call of Duty" and new takes on beloved characters including "Marvel's Avengers." But the breadth of games in development includes many creations that will offer players an alternative from the typical wave of action-adventures and online battles. Here's a quartet of quirky, offbeat treats uncovered from the array on display at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, which wrapped up here earlier this week.

Cult Swedish developer Simogo is making its first game for the Nintendo Switch in Sayonara Wild Hearts, a glam arcade title that dances to its own musical beat. The trailer dropped during The Game Awards on Thursday evening, serving as an introduction to the game's eclectic cast of characters based on tarot cards. You play as The Fool, the alternate dream-identity of a heartbroken woman who happens to be a masked biker. As The Fool, you venture on an interdimensional quest -- set to an original electro-pop soundtrack -- to find and break the hearts of rivalling bikers. Judging by the clip, you'll encounter three-headed beasts, take part in dance-offs, and even jump off your motorbike to try your hand at skateboarding side-quests.