Ubisoft have struck gold with Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. What was once something I would have laughed off a year ago has, without a doubt, become one of my favourite games of 2017.

When we first heard about the mash-up we were naturally skeptical. Mario, one of the most beloved and sacred characters in interactive entertainment, being paired with Ubisoft's hit and miss comedy act Rabbids in an Xcom-style turn-based strategy game?

Based on its colorful world, beautiful animation, and source material you might expect Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle to be "My first turn-based tactics game." But you're in for a surprise: even for XCOM vets some of its battles are challenging puzzles.

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a game that sounds like it shouldn't be any good. On the contrary, Ubisoft has crafted a charming adventure for Mario and its Rabbids. The game streamlines the strategy combat experience while still offering surprising depth.

I'm probably not the only one who scoffed at the idea of a Mario and Rabbids game as details of Nintendo's Switch leaked. The idea of one of gaming's brightest stars being paired with interactive ente

Sumptuous looks; Rewarding gameplay; The Rabbids finest hour

Not quite ‘Nintendo good; RNG can feel unfair

Honestly, I expected the Mario and Rabbids crossover to be a watered-down tactics game that was so simple and goofy that it could only be enjoyed by children. I was completely wrong. There's so much depth and content that this is an incredibly fun blast regardless of age. It’s challenging enough to entertain mature gamers, while offering an easy mode to satisfy kids and incompetent tacticians. With addictive combat, a charming story and an abundance of content with only more to come, Mario + Rabbids ticks so many boxes that it’s hard to find many flaws. Other than Breath of the Wild, this might just be the best game currently available on the Switch.

Smart and challenging combat system; Lengthy campaign and plenty of content; Story captures that lovable Mario charm;

Inconsistent quality in puzzles;

Smart and challenging combat system; Lengthy campaign and plenty of content; Story captures that lovable Mario charm;

Inconsistent quality in puzzles;

Wacky yet challenging, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle serves turn-based gameplay at a break-neck pace.

Complex; nuanced strategy; Unique movement mechanics; Surprisingly action-packed for a strategy game; Tons of content; Great fan service for Nintendo characters

Sudden difficulty spikes in boss fights; Repetitive puzzles; Underwhelming story

Speaking of humour, I was pleasantly shocked by some of the jokes that made into into the final game...there are a few toilet jokes, suggestive themes and even instances where it looks like Beep-O is swearing. This game has had a somewhat troubled past.

Gorgeous looking game; Deep gameplay mechanics; Lots of replay value; Plenty of challenge on offer

Humour may not be to everyone's tastes; Could be too difficult for young players

Space Jam. Kingdom Hearts. Mayweather vs. McGregor. Three examples to show how fantastic crossovers can be. And then we have Alien vs. Predator to show us how bad they can get.