Whether you already own one or you’ve finally bought into the hype and picked up a Nintendo Switch recently, you’re going to want to explore the best Nintendo Switch games to milk the most out of the hybrid portable console.
The Nintendo Switch was released in 2017 and has since become one of the best-selling gaming consoles of all time. And when you’re pretty much the ‘little engine that could,’ competing in a generation that features the massively popular – and once perenially sold-out – PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, that’s no easy feat.
Ever since the N64 arrived in 1996, Nintendo has built a stubborn reputation for doing things a bit differently when it comes to hardware. Oddly shaped controllers, rumble paks and a steadfast dedication to gaming cartridges over discs – the Japanese gaming company is nothing if not a proud outcast. So proud, in fact, that the Switch embodies the phrase “slow and steady wins and race.”
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Right now, the Nintendo Switch has blown past the PlayStation 4 and Game Boy to become the third best-selling console of all time with over 125.62 million units sold. The Switch sits behind the Nintendo DS, which has sold 154.02 million units, and the mighty PlayStation 2, which has sold 159 million units.
I’ve always been an overly enthusiastic Nintendo Switch fan and, given there’s now light industry talk about 2023 being the last big year of the hybrid portable console before its successor is announced, thought it’d be a good time to take a look back and rank the best Nintendo Switch games of all time.
Lists like this are inevitably going to be dominated by Mario games and Zelda games, but I’m going to attempt to present a balanced ranking. As always, keep scrolling past the list if you want to see how I’ve compiled this list and what metrics I’ve taken into consideration as a self-anointed Nintendo expert.
Best Nintendo Switch Games – Table Of Contents
- Best Nintendo Switch Games To Buy In 202 [Ranked]
- 26. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
- 25. Unpacking
- 24. Pokemon Sword & Pokemon Shield
- 23. Octopath Traveler II
- 22. Super Mario World 3D + Bowser’s Fury
- 21. Metroid Prime Remastered
- 20. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- 19. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
- 18. Stardew Valley
- 17. Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- 16. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- 15. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
- 14. Dead Cells
- 13. Luigi’s Mansion 3
- 12. Hades
- 11. Super Mario Brothers Wonder
- 10. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- 9. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- 8. Cuphead
- 7. Super Mario Odyssey
- 6. Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
- 5. Hollow Knight
- 4. Metroid Dread
- 3. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks Of Hope
- 2. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
- 1. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
- How Boss Hunting Ranked The Best Nintendo Switch Games
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Nintendo Switch Games To Buy In 202 [Ranked]
26. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Platforms: Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Puzzle
Metacritic Score: 82
Toad is the ultimate underdog in the Mario universe. Forget Luigi, to hell with Wario and who gives a flying f*ck about Waluigi. Princess Peach’s forever sidekick finally got his own spinoff back when the Wii U was at its creative best. Now the title has been republished for the Nintendo Switch, unlocking numerous engaging puzzles where Toad simply has to avoid danger and find some treasure. Plus, there are a few Mario Odyssey-inspired levels for the Switch version.
The minimalistic design and genuinely inventive puzzles make this a great head-scratcher for transit. I know when I don’t really feel like playing a big title on a long-haul flight, I just whip out the Switch and load this bad boy up. I guess it’s a bit like having a sitcom play in the background while you zone out – perfectly serviceable without requiring much attention.
25. Unpacking
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Developer: Witch Beam
Publisher: Humble Bundle
Genre: Puzzle
Metacritic Score: 86
The name of this game is as literal as they come. Developers Witch Beam took an incredibly simple concept and turned it into what the industry calls a zen game – something you just kind of zone out to. Franchises like Animal Crossing have popularised the emerging genre due to the mindfulness benefits it confers.
And look, I much rather take virtual possessions out of virtual boxes and fit them neatly into a new virtual apartment than do it in real life. Consider this the Marie Kondo of video games, and Unpacking fits the brief very well with inventive levels and complicated layouts.
24. Pokemon Sword & Pokemon Shield
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: The Pokemon Company, Nintendo
Genre: RPG
Metacritic Score: 80
Pokemon design may have become lazier and more eccentric over the years but Game Freak’s iconic RPG still has plenty of gas left in the tank. Truth be told, the eighth generation features some of the lamer monster designs that the series has seen and yet the story and gameplay more than atones for the ridiculousness of it all.
23. Octopath Traveler II
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Adventure RPG
Metacritic Score: 84
When people hype up a new Square Enix game, they’re usually referring to either Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest or Kingdom Hearts. And while the developer is best known for those three iconic RPG franchises, I actually think some of its finest work is with the modest Octopath Traveler brand.
The first game was so inventive and charming with its HD-2D art style that a sequel was inevitable. Octopath Traveler II somehow improves upon its predecessor in every way, firing on all cylinders for anyone who likes classic RPG games with engaging combat and fantastic storytelling.
22. Super Mario World 3D + Bowser’s Fury
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer
Metacritic Score: 89
With Super Mario Bros. Wonder just around the corner, the appetite for a classic side-scrolling Mario adventure is still very much in-tact. Following Mario’s 3D reinvention with games like Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario Galaxy, it’s good to see that the classic format is still being refined and improved upon.
This makes Super Mario 3D World a reliable entry in the iconic series, republishing the classic Nintendo 3DS game and adding in a new adventure with Bowser’s Fury.
21. Metroid Prime Remastered
Platforms: Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Puzzle
Metacritic Score: 82
Metroid Prime was one of the best games on any console when it was released far back in 2002 for the Nintendo Gamecube. No one really expected it to be revived as a Nintendo Switch Game but Retro Studios did an incredible job at updating the title and improving almost every aspect of the game without overshadowing the iconic gameplay.
I feel like Metroid has been one of the more forgotten franchises over the past few generations but the Switch has been working hard at reminding fans of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran and her adventures battling Space Pirates. Metroid Prime Remastered is an essential game, and the newer Metroid Dread is also excellent.
20. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Platform: Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Puzzle
Metacritic Score: 82
Much like Minecraft, Animal Crossing has become one of the most iconic social simulation games of all time. Nintendo really struck gold when they started stretching this concept in different directions and New Horizons is the best expression to date.
The utility of Animal Crossing as more than just a game has been discussed widely in the industry. That’s probably why it has sold some 41 million copies since the beginning of the pandemic, reiterating the title as an exemplar of what some people call “cosy gaming.”
In other words, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a comfort game. There’s no end goal to the game. There’s no issue of time. You literally just lose yourself in the simulator as you control an avatar that builds, fishes, crafts, cooks, explores an island paradise and just generally lives a cosy, off-the-grid lifestyle.
Rewards are also set on a random interval schedule, adding novelty to the game and keeping those dopamine levels up which keeps people coming back for more. Yes, that’s kind of similar to how gambling addiction works, but at least you aren’t losing actual money with this seemingly innocuous title. Not many games are as addictive.
19. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Monolith Soft
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: JRPG
Metacritic Score: 89
The art of JRPG (or Japanese RPG) may be fairly niche for some and it definitely isn’t for everyone. Cutscenes are often annoyingly long, gameplay can be hard to grasp initially and the games seem to go on forever. Still, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a perfect illustration of a JRPG done well. All that hard work is rewarded by a deep storyline that manages to blow past the first two entries in the franchise and refine beloved mechanics like the unique real-time combat.
18. Stardew Valley
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Developer: ConcernedApe
Publisher: ConcernedApe
Genre: RPG
Metacritic Score: 87
Stardew Valley hits the same vein as Animal Cross: New Horizons in that it’s largely based on everyday life around the farm. You play a character that inherits a large plot of land from their grandfather and the gameplay mechanics are largely based on production. You restore buildings, develop relationships, and keep monsters away. Hell, consider it the top-down RPG version of Yellowstone – just replace a ranch with a farm.
Again, this is a comfort game based on no particular end goal. It’s much like Seinfeld: a game about “nothing” that ends up being a game about everything. Not exactly a strategy game, but one that requires a good level of ingenuity and forward planning, hence training your brain to manage time better in real life. Which, of course, is the height of irony since you are still playing a video game.
17. Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: The Pokemon Company, Nintendo
Genre: RPG
Metacritic Score: 83
While there are plenty of Pokemon spin-offs like Pokemon Snap and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, Arceus was the first of its kind. This is the first open-world game in the entire series, giving fans something they’ve been wanting for years. And while it wasn’t quite as epic as we hoped for, Pokemon Legends: Acreus is still a fantastic game for the hybrid Nintendo console.
Being able to catch Pokemon in real-time without even engaging in battle helped take away from the repetitiveness of the early stages of a typical Pokemon adventure. And while that mechanic also got quite tiresome eventually – I much prefer battling – it helped ground Arceus in something a bit closer to reality and imagined Pokemon as a more realistic, gritty adventure without the slightly nauseating pitfalls of a typical JRPG.
16. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: RPG
Metacritic Score: 89
I really don’t think they make turn-based strategy RPGs like they used to. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a good reminder that I’m just plain wrong sometimes. And while I do think the good old days of classic RPGs are long behind us, it’s nice to see this vast, creative role-playing game draw upon some legendary titles and keep it all in line with what we’ve come to know and love about the Fire Emblem series.
15. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
Developer: ZA/UM
Publisher: ZA/UM
Genre: RPG
Metacritic Score: 97
You can always count on developers ZA/UM for a good, wholly unique game that is unlike anything that’s come before it. All too often you’ll find that most of the biggest games in the world borrow strains of DNA from each other and while Disco Elysium does have some familiar patchwork ideas, the developers clearly put a lot of thought into making this a singular entry for gaming in the modern age.
The non-traditional RPG has very little combat and gameplay to speak about, rather than putting you in the shoes of a washed-up detective who solves mysteries by navigating complex conversations using either wit or recklessness. You can either become a successful detective or an absolute loose cannon of a human. It’s unhinged, entertaining and gorgeous to look at.
14. Dead Cells
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Developer: Motion Twin
Publisher: Motion Twin
Genre: Platformer
Metacritic Score: 89
All fussy gamers love a good dungeon crawler. And while Hollow Knight may be the creme de la creme of the coinfected Metroidvania genre, Dead Cells is also pretty much perfect. The fast-paced action-platformer can be frustrating at times and the difficulty often borders on Dark Souls-esque frustration, but developers Motion Twin clearly set this one up to be a rewarding gaming experience for people who complain that modern games are just too simple.
13. Luigi’s Mansion 3
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Next Level Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Adventure
Metacritic Score: 86
Turning Luigi into the ghostbuster of the Mario universe was always going to be an odd choice and Nintendo are well aware of just how eccentric this spin-off can be. The most surprising thing about Luigi’s Mansion 3 is that, even after two very great sequels, the designers are still managing to pull plenty of ingenuity out of this concept, making Luigi’s Mansion just as essential as any mainline Mario game.
12. Hades
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Developer: Supergiant Games
Publisher: Supergiant Games
Genre: RPG
Metacritic Score: 93
Supergiant Games really upped its profile when it released Hades in 2018. Just a few years on and it’s now considered one of the greatest games of all time, winning numerous awards and winning all types of gamers over to its roguelike schtick.
You play as the son of Hades, Zagerus, who simply needs to escape the Underworld. And while that’s straightforward enough, the hoops you have to jump through to save yourself become increasingly difficult. Yet the challenge is often balanced out by a constant stream of fun, with brilliant combat mechanics and beautiful design that’s almost impossible to look away from.
Hades is one of my personal top picks for the best Switch games but be warned, much like FromSoftware’s lauded titles, it’s not for everyone.
11. Super Mario Brothers Wonder
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer
Metacritic Score: 93
Super Mario Bros. Wonder was one of those games I wasn’t super excited about. The trailer was just another 3D side-scrolling Mario adventure going through the motions, adding a few new gimmicks but very much offering more of what we’ve seen before.
But such is the life of an ageing cynic. I should know never to count Nintendo out of the game, especially when it comes to finding new ways to give us nostalgia while also pushing their icons further. The Mario family is now well-established outside of just Mario and Luigi, so the fact that you can pick and choose who you play as is a fun element that adds a lot of personality to this game.
And the art in this whole thing really is personality. Nintendo is great at it, so have designed all these new levels around interesting new ideas and reimagining of classic Mario tropes. I don’t like how easy it is. In fact I still hate how not-challegning mainline Mario games are. It’s easy to breeze through this bad boy in a day if you have time, but you’ll have a lot of fun doing so.
10. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action
Metacritic Score: 93
Take all the fun you know and love from the successful Super Smash Bros. series and, well, make it the “ultimate” version of that. That’s pretty much what Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is, taking what made the game such a hit and throwing more into it.
The maximal approach works. Up to four players can battle in arenas using iconic characters from the Nintendo universe, each with very specific skill sets which helps make each and every fight a chaotic free-for-all where just about anyone can win.
The beauty in any Super Smash Bros. game is that the tides of battle can change so suddenly that there’s no such thing as someone “winning” or “losing.” This is in contrast to your traditional fighter games where it’s clearer who is going to emerge the victor shortly into the fight. Here, it’s anyone’s game.
9. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Racing
Metacritic Score: 92
The ultimate party game, Mario Kart will never go out of style. Much like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, this is just Nintendo taking a multiplayer game that will always work well for them and throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it.
Again, the maximal approach works very well, taking just about every element of the Mario Kart experience to the next level with new, immersive tracks and better designs. Plus, there’s a great deal of longevity with Nintendo constantly adding new content for the game so those pizza-and-beer nights with mates never run stale.
8. Cuphead
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Developer: Studio MDHR
Publisher: Studio MDHR
Genre: Platformer
Metacritic Score: 87
It may seem like a cutesy Disney game at first, but Cuphead is a brutal and hellishly difficult shooter that will have you pulling your hair out at the best of times. Each level is practically just a very well-designed boss bottle, tasking you with richly detailed combat that draws on all kinds of genres.
There’s really no other game like it, and the fact that it’s now playable on Switch means that you play Cuphead wherever and whenever you want. It’s my go-to when I’m on a long-haul flight, and I’ve become good enough at beating the bosses that it’s gone from an outrageously frustrating experience to one that’s just as calming and zen as Animal Crossing.
In fact, I’ve found more comfort in Cuphead than any of these so-called “cosy games.”
7. Super Mario Odyssey
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Adventure
Metacritic Score: 97
Mario has come a very long way from being just a side-scrolling platformer. From Mario 64 to Super Mario Galaxy, Nintendo’s constant reinvention of its flagship gaming franchise has been nothing short of a seismic success in the industry. In 2017, Super Mario Odyssey continued that penchant for innovation, taking Mario to New York City and attempting to blend the cartoonish style with something a bit more realistic.
While it’s not as visually striking and fun as Super Mario Galaxy, Odyssey still manages to pack in plenty of intriguing content that pulls heavily on nostalgia for a heady dose of fan service.
6. Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Strategy
Metacritic Score: 85
While the sequel is even better, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle introduced a new kind of Mario spin-off game that creatively borrowed a lot of ideas from the popular turn-based strategy title XCOM. This is much more than just a re-skin of 2K Games’ work, however.
Kingdom Battle was proof that Nintendo still has plenty of fresh ideas bubbling around its signature mascot, bringing in the Rabbids crew, giving them all weapons and unique skills, and designing some ridiculously fun maps and bosses. Sandwich in plenty of genuinely funny humour and you’ve got yourself the best Mario spin-off since the award-winning Mario & Luigi RPGs.
5. Hollow Knight
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
Developer: Team Cherry
Publisher: Team Cherry
Genre: Action-Adventure
Metacritic Score: 90
A brutally difficult, dark gothic adventure conceived as a classic MetroidVania platformer. Hollow Knight was the perfect pitch from Team Cherry and it bangs on the mark each and every time. While not having direction can be frustrating at times, I admire the fact that the game refuses to hold your hand and just leaves you to navigate this vast, melancholic world of dark creatures and sad, lonely NPCs.
4. Metroid Dread
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Mercury Steam
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action
Metacritic Score: 88
Challenging levels, great design and memorable boss fights. Metroid Dread feels like Mercury Steam getting its groove back, reviving the beloved and unique sci-fi series to remind everyone that Samus Aran is just as iconic to Nintendo as Mario or Zelda. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that is one of the best Metroid games to date, which is saying quite a lot since this IP has always been a high point for the company ever since the first Metroid was released in 1986.
3. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks Of Hope
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Strategy
Metacritic Score: 86
I was very excited about Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope when it was released in October 2022. And I wasn’t surprised that I found it just as addictive as the original. I respect what developers Ubisoft Milan set out to do, which was to take the game’s playful predecessor and add a great deal of new gameplay mechanics to keep things very interesting.
The humour isn’t quite as sharp and slick as the first game, but the X Com-inspired gameplay has been tightened and refined in the smartest way possible. I really do hope a third title is in the works because this incredibly unique hybrid of Mario and Rabbids is fast becoming one of the most valuable games on the Nintendo Switch.
2. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Adventure
Metacritic Score: 97
Having one of the greatest games of all time as a Nintendo Switch launch title was more than just a bit of flex for the legendary Japanese gaming company. It guaranteed sales far exceeding what most people reasonably expected for the machine, given the strong competition from both PlayStation and Xbox at the time.
And even though its sequel has surpassed it, this revolutionary new format for Zelda sent shockwaves throughout the industry and reiterated the ongoing franchise as one of gaming’s most important.
I remember sinking so many hours into this game that it restarted my lifelong sleeping issues. And yeah, for a grown man that’s sad, but if you’re judging then just you haven’t gone hands-on with what I feel is the perfect mix of nostalgia – something Nintendo so well – and innovation as Zelda is reimagined as a hyper-liberated open-world game where you could conceivably battle the very final boss as soon as you start the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the best games ever made. There’s just no debating it.
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Adventure
Metacritic Score: 96
Some critics might say that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is trying to do far too much to be called the greatest game of all time. Others would say that Nintendo has found a way to reinvent not only itself but the industry in general by taking crafting sims like Minecraft and Super Mario Maker and finding a genius way to pull those mechanics into a classic Zelda adventure.
Who’s right? The latter, of course. Although it was only released recently, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is so unique and memorable that it’s not considered up there along with Grand Theft Auto and Goldeneye 007 as seminal games that will make an impact for years to come.
How Boss Hunting Ranked The Best Nintendo Switch Games
Our resident gaming expert, Chris Singh (that is, me) has played all these Nintendo Switch games over the year and has used both his personal opinion, online reviews and the all-encompassing Metacritic score to help rank these titles. As such, this ranking of Nintendo Switch games is based on both subjective opinion as well as extensive secondary research.
Metrics taken into consideration include the impact of the game, the ideas it has introduced in the industry, commercial success, graphics, gameplay and how intuitive it is for a wide range of players. There’s also the Nintendo Switch itself. I took into consideration how enjoyable the game is when the Switch is not docked (which is how most people play it). Is this the kind of game that you’d want to play in transit?
And yes. It may look awkward that both Zelda titles occupy the top two spots. But I didn’t want to take to knock Breath of the Wild down a few notches just because Tears of the Kingdom was number one. That should show you that I’ve taken this ranking quite seriously in order to help our readers decide on what Switch games are really worth buying.
When you’re social media feed is flooded with viral videos of the best Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom inventions that people have come with, you know Nintendo has struck the perfect balance between a high-quality video game with awesome gameplay mechanics and a genius viral element that will ensure strong sales for a very long time.
If you enjoyed our round-up of the best Nintendo Switch games, check out our other gaming content:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Nintendo Switch game of all time?
The best Nintendo Switch game of all time is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
When will Nintendo announce the follow up to the Nintendo Switch?
While the Nintendo Switch is definitely nearing the end of its life cycle, Nintendo is keeping its follow-up under tight wraps. There are currently no known details about what Nintendo has planned but an announcement is expected in 2024.
Will there be a new Zelda game after Tears of the Kingdom?
Given the incredible success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there will almost certainly be a follow-up with a similar open-world format from game director Hidemaro Fujibayashi.
