Top 20 Best Nintendo Switch Games
#20: “Golf Story” (2017)
Most players don’t pick up a sports game for its story mode. But, trust us, this one is the exception. “Golf Story’s” narrative is a surprisingly thoughtful ride from start to finish, especially when presented through the game’s charming art-style. Of course, none of that would matter if the golfing weren’t up to snuff. Thankfully, “Golf Story” has that covered, too. The innovative blend of player expression and RPG mechanics makes for an engaging ride on the green each and every time. However, the most impressive part is that this was indie developer Sidebar Games’ first ever home console release. To say they hit a hole-in-one would be putting it lightly.
#19: “Paper Mario: The Origami King” (2020)
This isn’t the first time Mario and the others have been folded up. But, based on how great this game is, fingers crossed it’s not the last. “The Origami King” keeps the series’ iconic art-style, throws out most of its RPG elements, and cranks up the adventure to new heights. The added emphasis on puzzle-solving and strategic combat ensures that “The Origami King” never once feels repetitive. That’s a good thing, considering half the fun is just walking around, uncovering secrets in the colorful overworld. The other half is reading the dialogue. Truly, this might be the single funniest “Mario” game ever made.
#18: “Pokémon Legends: Arceus” (2022)
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Despite it being the series’ motto, this is the first game to really personify the phrase “gotta catch ‘em all.” Given the results, it’s surprising they didn’t do it sooner. “Legends: Arceus” thrives upon the thrill of finding a new Pokémon in the wild. Though, the surprisingly in-depth story doesn’t hurt, either. All those elements go the extra mile in making the Pokémon world feel like a living, breathing place instead of just a vessel for battles. Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of the turn-based goodness the series is known for. Plus, anyone craving a slightly more traditional “Pokémon” experience can always pick up the “Let's Go!” games, too. There’s really no going wrong either way.
#17: “Super Mario Maker 2” (2019)
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It’s not hyperbole to say you could play this game for thousands upon thousands of hours and still not see everything it has to offer. In fact, the only negative is trying to decide which to do first: playing the community-created levels online, or making your own. No matter what, there’s a never-ending flood of Mario content coming your way. The ingenious gameplay loop appeals to beginners, pros, and every kind of player in between. Even without a Nintendo online membership, there’s enough single-player content to make this a must-have for any Switch owner. “Super Mario Maker 2” is the game that never ends, and that’s a very good thing.
#16: “Tetris 99” (2019)
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There’s something hypnotically addictive about “Tetris.” It’s simple, it’s rewarding, and above all, it’s fun. Which is precisely why it was prime for the battle-royale treatment. Now, puzzle games don’t usually scream online multiplayer, but “Tetris 99” cleverly makes fitting pieces together a nail-biting race. Whether it’s fighting the clock or sabotaging your opponents, there’s just enough competitive edge to make the formula feel fresh. And yet, it never overshadows the innate simplicity that’s made Tetris a gaming staple for decades. There’s so many reasons to pick this one up, but really, the biggest one is just to hear that classic theme song again.
#15: “Splatoon 2” (2017)
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Perhaps the most tragic thing about the Wii U is that it actually had several ambitious exclusives that not nearly enough people got to play. Even if you missed out on the original “Splatoon,” that shouldn’t turn you off from its equally enjoyable follow-up. While Nintendo has often strayed away from shooters, both “Splatoon” games put a colorful spin on the genre, playing out like paintball on steroids. Between Hero Mode and the “Octo Expansion” DLC, “Splatoon 2” offers a wild single-player experience that’s as fun as it is messy. Even after completing these solo campaigns, the game will keep you and friends coming back with its array of multiplayer modes. Both it and its sequel, “Splatoon 3,” are everything the first game was and more: A splatter fest for all ages.
#14: “Snipperclips Plus” (2017)
At its core, the premise behind this puzzle-solving game is deceptively straightforward. Players are tasked with solving various levels by cutting, or rather “snipping” themselves into different shapes. It’s a mechanic that’s easy-to-understand but difficult-to-master, and that tricky balance makes “Snipperclips Plus” a distinctly rewarding experience. See, the puzzle isn’t just figuring out what to do, but how to do it. Each level forces players to approach the snipping mechanic in a new, unique way. The fact it’s built for co-op only adds to that. Even though “Snipperclips” was a launch title on the Switch, it still reigns supreme as the console’s de-facto puzzle game.
#13: “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” (2022)
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Apparently, Kirby’s new Big-Mouth mode did more than swallow up copy abilities. It also took in the very best of the series’ decade-spanning legacy. “Forgotten Land” is everything longtime players love about the franchise, with just enough evolution to keep things fresh. Somehow, Kirby feels right at home in full 3D. As a matter of fact, every single gameplay element feels better than ever. It’s to the point that “Forgotten Land” is considered one of, if not the greatest “Kirby” game ever made. Audiences agree, too, and as of 2023, “Kirby & the Forgotten Land” is currently the best-selling game in the whole series. Those kinds of numbers speak for themselves.
#12: “Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze” (2014)
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Ever since its debut on the Wii U, players have gone absolutely bananas for “Tropical Freeze.” And rightfully so. Now that it’s been ported to the Switch, there’s no excuse for missing out on one of the greatest platformers of the generation. The game sports some of the most diverse and creative level design in the business. To say nothing of the actual gameplay, which strikes the perfect balance of challenging but worthwhile. Although, the soundtrack is so good that restarting a level feels more like a luxury than a chore, anyways. Donkey Kong’s come a long way from throwing barrels at Mario, that’s for sure.
#11: “Luigi’s Mansion 3” (2019)
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After a brief vacation to the 3DS, the “Luigi’s Mansion” series finally made its grand return to home consoles in 2019. And ghost-catching has never been so scarily good. The change in locale from a mansion to a hotel bursts the doors wide open for some spine-tingling level designs. The game has no shortage of them, either. There’s a staggering seventeen floors to explore, most of which come with their own unique theme or ghost-catching gimmick. That’s all without even mentioning it’s fantastic co-op or inventive multiplayer, either. “Luigi’s Mansion 3” isn’t a return to form; it’s a glorified victory lap. The only question left is, Mario who?
#10: “Xenoblade Chronicles 3” (2022)
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In terms of bang for your buck, it’s hard to compete with an open-world RPG you can easily sink a hundred-plus hours into. Luckily, in “Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s” case, each of those hours is better than the last. The real-time combat is more engaging than ever, which is saying something considering the original system was already pretty great to begin with. The improvements aren’t just limited to gameplay, though. On the story side, the ambitious narrative seamlessly weaves in references from the past games while still forging its own identity. This is the rare sequel that doesn’t just outdo its predecessor, it surpasses the high bar of its entire franchise altogether.
#9: “Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope” (2022)
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The idea of Rabbids-looking Mario characters duking it out in tactical, turn-based combat sounds like a bad fever dream. But, against all odds, the original “Kingdom Battle” crossover was a delightful addition to the strategy genre. Like any good sequel, “Sparks of Hope” keeps what worked, jettisons what didn’t, and adds a thick layer of polish on top. In this case, that meant blowing up the maps to allow even more in-depth chaos than ever before. Yes, that also means it’s a bit unbalanced and easily cheesed. But, that’s all part of the fun. “Mario + Rabbids” is undeniably insane, and it’s all the better because of it.
#8: “Metroid Dread” (2021)
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A true, side-scrolling sequel to “Metroid Fusion” had been considered for the better part of twenty years. But, amazingly, “Metroid Dread” was well worth the wait. It’s inarguably the pinnacle of the franchise’s 2D efforts, and one look at it in motion is enough to see why. You’ve got cool upgrades, stealth sections, puzzles, and more. That’s a lot of high bars to meet, but “Dread” either matches or expands upon every single one. The game doesn’t take many risks because it doesn’t have to; the core of “Metroid’s” gameplay is just that good. In terms of where this positioned the franchise, “Dread” left fans doing anything but.
#7: “Bayonetta 2” (2018)
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This sequel has more style than it knows what to do with. Everything from the backgrounds to the idle animations brim with an artistic flair that’s just plain nice to look at. Let alone to actually play. “Bayonetta 2” has one of the most fluid and freeform combat systems ever made, and the game smartly doesn’t get in the way of that. If anything, the detailed graphics make laying waste to angels, demons, and monsters more satisfying than ever before. Ironically, this game wasn’t even originally built for modern consoles. But, rest assured, its legacy on the Wii U hasn’t stopped the “Bayonetta 2” port from becoming one of the Switch’s best titles.
#6: “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” (2017)
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Another game that had the disadvantage of being released on the Wii U, “Mario Kart 8” was thankfully given a second life on the Switch. Rather than just being a simple port, however, Nintendo gave us the whole package with the original game’s DLC tracks, plus several new racers like “Splatoon’s” Inklings. The racing tracks are as slick as ever with the introduction of anti-gravity gameplay, not to mention vehicles that can drive underwater and glide through the sky. “Deluxe” also completely overhauls the game’s Battle Mode with a wider variety of challenges. Although many continue to stand by “Mario Kart 64” as the gold standard, we all need to accept that the torch has been passed to the series’ latest installment.
#5: “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” (2020)
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At a time when the world needed a sense of community, “New Horizons” offered just that in one industry-shaking video game. But timing is just one part of its success. As the absolute apex of the franchise’s efforts, it offers a ludicrous amount of player freedom inside of its obsessive gameplay loop. And yet, beyond all of that, “New Horizons’” best quality is that it feels blissfully simple. Its low-key vibe makes it the perfect escapism, whether it be for ten minutes, ten hours, ten days, or beyond. “New Horizons” is “Animal Crossing” doing what “Animal Crossing” does best, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.
#4: “Fire Emblem: Three Houses” (2019)
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There aren’t many franchises that peak thirty years in. “Fire Emblem” almost didn’t make it that long at all. But, after narrowly escaping cancellation in the 3DS era, “Three Houses” single handedly put the series back on top. The marriage of tactical RPG battles and social-sim sections is so novel, it’s a wonder it hasn’t been there all along. For the first time, you aren’t just the army’s general, either. You’re their teacher. That, when paired with the expansive branching narrative, makes every single fight feel important. All of “Three Houses’” harmonious mechanics makes it one of the most fulfilling RPG experiences on the Switch, if not all time.
#3: “Super Mario Odyssey” (2017)
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In recent years, we’re gotten several “Mario” games in the spirit of his early side-scrolling days on the NES and Super NES. This vibrant title, though, draws inspiration from the free-roaming, open world gameplay Nintendo revolutionized in “Super Mario 64.” “Super Mario Odyssey” feels like the next evolutionary step for the iconic plumber, taking him to a plethora of diverse lands with nearly 1,000 Power Moons to collect. The game’s greatest innovation is Cappy, an anthropomorphic hat that allows Mario to take control of various creatures and items. Currently holding the record for the best-selling Switch game, “Odyssey” is more than worthy of its success. This is a loving celebration of everything Mario, reminding us why he is and always will be a Nintendo icon.
#2: “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” (2018)
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Although we’ve yet to come across a bad “Super Smash Bros.” game, it was starting to look like the crossover fighting franchise had officially peaked with “Melee.” That’s all been called into question thanks to “Ultimate.” Whether or not this is the definitive “Smash Bros.,” it’s definitely the meatiest with every playable character from all previous installments and newcomers we’ve waited years to see join the fight. The fact that you begin the game with only eight characters gives you the drive to keep playing until the whole lineup is assembled. What really distinguishes “Ultimate,” however, is its World of Light adventure mode, which commences with a cutscene that makes “Infinity War” look like child’s play. In short, this is Nintendo at its most epic.
#1: “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017)
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It’s practically a cliché to rank a “Zelda” game #1 on any Nintendo-related list. “Breath of the Wild” is not only the Switch’s best offering so far, it’s also likely one of the best games of all time. Taking a nonlinear approach to the established “Zelda” formula, “Breath of the Wild” allows players to travel through the gorgeously-rendered kingdom of Hyrule however they choose. While the franchise has always put an emphasis on adventure, this game truly makes you feel like an explorer as you voyage from one lively environment to another, uncertain what awaits next. As a launch title, “Breath of the Wild” demonstrated what the Switch was capable of, giving players the power to hold an open world in their hands.