When it was first announced, the Nintendo Switch looked like a promising yet risky console that could potentially be a huge hit or a forgettable flop like its older brother, Wii U. A few weeks after its release, however, it seemed to have defied all odds to become one of the leading video game consoles on the market. The Switch is not just appealing to a wide variety of gamers; it’s also attracting new players who’ve never owned a console before.
It’s almost impossible to ignore the buzz. The Nintendo Switch is clearly one of the most exciting pieces of technology to hit the market in years and has been getting gamers of all ages excited, and for a good reason. It’s a new way to play your favorite Nintendo games (and many new ones), with a design that is portable and fun. The Nintendo Switch video games are also top-notch. Want to play a game about fighting monsters? Cooking? Exploring dungeons? They’ve got something for everyone!
Nintendo Switch has been out since 2017, so its library of games has had time to get packed with an eclectic mix of console-defining exclusives, ports of indie gems, and traditional blockbusters. With thousands of titles, there are plenty of options to choose from. Fortunately for you, we’ve played a good bunch of games for Nintendo Switch and can point you in the direction of some really good hours of playing! These recommendations will offer you new experiences that are well worth your time and money.
#1 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
One of the latest entries in the long-running Zelda series, which debuted in 1986 on the NES, is an open-world adventure with 50 to 200 hours of content, based on your will to explore every single aspect of the game and get a 100% completion. You’ll explore vast expanses of Hyrule and fight monsters along the way in your quest to defeat Calamity Ganon and restore peace in the kingdom.
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40points
#2 Kirby And The Forgotten Land
In this new Kirby game for Nintendo Switch, Kirby is tasked to save the Waddle Dees, kidnapped by the ferocious Beast Pack and trapped in cages. Kirby And The Forgotten Land lets you complete missions with a partner in a six-area giant world, but there’s your usual single-player story mode if you’d rather go solo. Plus, there are cute little collectibles hidden all over the place! In addition to these features, there are plenty more surprises waiting for those who dare enter this forgotten land.
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33points
#3 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a quiet, quirky game about building a life for yourself on a deserted island, working hard to earn money, making friends with the animal villagers who inhabit your island, and expanding your home and town. You can enjoy the game at your own pace, and it has an abundance of light-hearted activities and features (from building furniture to decorating your house to catching bugs) that will keep you enthralled for hours.
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31points
#4 Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Here we are with the newest release from the Pokémon franchise! Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a prequel to the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl saga, set in the region of Sinnoh when it was still known as Hisui. The story centers around a young recruit of the Galaxy Team, an expedition group that undertakes various surveying missions across the region. The gameplay has been reinvented to include new RPG elements, with a focus on more open-world exploration, allowing players to run around freely in the environment and hunt for their favorite Pokémon.
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29points
#5 Unpacking
Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like. Unpacking is not your usual game. It’s a zen experience consisting of unpacking boxes, like when you move into a new house. That’s it? Not exactly. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, with this game you are invited to create a satisfying living space while observing and getting clues about the life you’re unpacking. You can beat it in just 5 or 6 hours, so it’s a small-packed Switch game for those who prefer a more indie and chill playing experience.
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29points
#6 Metroid Dread
Set after the events of Metroid Fusion, released in 2002, Metroid Dread is a 2D action-adventure game that follows the bounty hunter Samus Aran as she explores and investigates the source of a mysterious transmission on the planet ZDR. Players collect various power-ups and weapons that are essential to navigate the world and defeat the enemies.
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28points
#7 Super Mario Odyssey
If you’re a longtime Mario fan, it’s hard to believe that his adventures could get any better than they’ve been in the past, but this installment may just prove you wrong. With the new magic hat Cappy, Mario can now possess and use other characters’ powers! In this new adventure, Cappy is a valuable addition to help Mario save his dear Princess Peach from his nemesis Bowser’s plans of forced marriage.
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27points
#8 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a must-have for every Switch owner. It’s one of the best racing games ever made and has dozens of characters, including Donkey Kong, Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser. The game features 48 tracks with support for up to eight players, each with their own consoles and copies of the game, to link up wirelessly.
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27points
#9 Olliolli World
This skateboarding game is about cruising through a fantasy world and pulling off your best tricks with a skateboard. It’s a simple yet challenging formula that becomes increasingly difficult as you progress through its colorful levels. The graphics are stunning and stylized, like something from a cartoon with old-school animation techniques. Beautiful!
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26points
#10 Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Save the day with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury in a new edition for Nintendo Switch! Go on an adventure on your own or with up to three other players in this enhanced version of 2013’s Super Mario 3D World. Then, solo or with a friend, help Bowser Jr. get his dad back to normal in the all-new add-on adventure Bowser’s Fury.
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24points
