The Nintendo Switch hybrid console was released in 2017, but is far from being a thing of the past, as the sales figures impressively demonstrate time and time again. There are many reasons for this: The console can be used on the go, is family-friendly and offers a whole range of excellent titles. Even though its successor, the Nintendo Switch 2, will be released in 2025, it is worth taking a look at the best Nintendo Switch games. After all, the new console will be backwards compatible and will be able to play all games from the Switch.
10th place: Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Royal takes players into a fascinating world of intrigue, the supernatural and personal growth. As the protagonist, players take on the role of a teenager who has been wrongly convicted of a crime and has to start his life from scratch in a new city. But everyday life at school and in his dealings with his classmates is just a facade: he soon discovers a parallel world called Metaverse, in which people’s dark desires take physical form. Together with the “Phantom Thieves of Hearts”, he uses the power of personas to bring corrupt adults to justice.
The gameplay combines strategic, turn-based battles with an everyday life simulator where relationships can be built, skills improved and the city explored. Persona 5 Royal expands on the original game with new characters, additional areas and in-depth story elements. In particular, the new semester added in the Royal version brings exciting twists and turns and ensures that even connoisseurs of the original can look forward to fresh experiences.
The game’s unique style impresses with a mix of anime aesthetics, dynamic soundtracks and a distinctive red color scheme. Persona 5 Royal offers an emotional yet profound experience that will delight veterans of the series and newcomers alike with its blend of strategy, storytelling and creative presentation. It’s a masterpiece that sets new standards in terms of gameplay and storytelling. One of the best Nintendo Switch games.
9th place: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons invites players into a peaceful, charming world where creativity and relaxation take center stage. At the beginning, you are stranded as a new islander on an uninhabited tropical island, ready to shape it according to your own ideas. With the help of the well-known raccoon Tom Nook and his crew, you begin to build your own personal paradise, which can range from simple tents to magnificent communities.
Gameplay revolves around gathering resources, crafting furniture and decorations, and maintaining relationships with animal neighbors. Players can plant gardens, construct buildings or simply enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while fishing and catching insects. Each season brings new activities, events and opportunities, giving the island a lively rhythm. In addition, the multiplayer mode allows visits to friends, encouraging the exchange of ideas and resources.
With its picturesque graphics, relaxing music and the freedom to create a fully customized world, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Encouraging players to unfold at their own pace, the game is an experience that captivates with simplicity, warmth and endless possibilities. It is a perfect example of a game that entertains and soothes in equal measure.
8th place: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the ultimate fun racer for the Nintendo Switch and offers action-packed races that are characterized by their colorful graphics and dynamic gameplay elements. With a selection of over 40 characters from the Mario universe and more than 48 exciting tracks, the game invites you to take part in thrilling competitions on the ground, in the air and even under water. New in this expanded version is the ability to carry two items at the same time, providing additional tactical depth and spectacular races.
The game particularly shines with its versatile multiplayer mode, which provides turbulent entertainment both locally and online with up to 12 players. Whether in the classic Grand Prix mode or in one of the creative battles such as “Balloon Chase” or “Robbers and Gendarme” – there is something for everyone here. The introduction of driving aids such as the auto-steer system and the acceleration aid also makes the game more accessible for beginners without neglecting experienced players.
With its successful mix of thrilling gameplay, iconic music and timeless characters, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains a prime example of family fun and friendly duels. It is the perfect game for cozy evenings or heated competitions and a must-have for every Nintendo fan. Whether on the couch or online against players worldwide – the thrill is guaranteed! One of the Nintendo Switch games that no collection should be without.
7th place: Xenoblade Chronicles 3
The gameplay combines expansive open-world exploration with strategic real-time battles in which players can control up to seven characters simultaneously. The flexible class system allows players to try out different skills and fighting styles, while the new Ouroboros mechanic combines two characters into powerful fusion units. The huge game world is full of breathtaking landscapes, exciting side quests and challenging enemies that guarantee hours of fun.
With its beautiful graphics, impressive music by Yasunori Mitsuda and multi-faceted gameplay, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a masterpiece that will appeal to fans of the series and newcomers alike. The seamless combination of narrative and gameplay makes it an unforgettable experience and sets new standards for the genre. It’s an adventure that will stay with players long after the credits roll.
6th place: Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes the popular Mario series to a new dimension and offers a fresh gaming experience with innovative mechanics. The game takes players into the colorful and imaginative “Wonder Fairytale Realm”, which is filled with mysterious flowers and unpredictable powers. In the usual Mario style, players hop through a variety of exciting levels that feature surprising elements and creative challenges. New power-ups, including the Wonder Flower, allow the world and the game mechanics themselves to react in unexpected ways.
The gameplay remains true to the classic Mario roots, but also offers numerous new features. The use of multiplayer modes makes it possible for up to four players to jump and interact together through the colorful world. Particularly noteworthy are the unique “wonder” moments, where the levels suddenly change their shape and rules, giving the game a fresh, unexplored touch. The varied scenarios, from green forests to floating islands, make the game visually and playfully exciting.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder relies on a mixture of nostalgia and fresh ideas that should delight both long-time fans and newcomers alike. The accessible controls, innovative mechanics and humorous charm make it an entertaining adventure for all ages. Whether alone or in co-op mode, the game offers plenty of fun and challenges for every occasion.
5th place: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the ultimate crossover fighting game that brings together an impressive selection of characters from different video game franchises. With over 70 playable fighters, including classics such as Mario, Link and Pikachu, as well as popular characters from across the gaming world, the game offers unparalleled enjoyment for fans of all genres. The battles are fast, dynamic and offer in-depth mechanics that appeal to both casual and competitive gamers.
The game is characterized by a huge selection of varied arenas and modes. Players can fight in various scenarios inspired by well-known video game worlds, from “Final Destination” to dynamic stages that change during battle. In addition to the classic battles, there are a variety of game modes, such as the challenge mode, in which players compete against different opponents in a series of battles, as well as the online mode, which allows players to compete with friends or other players worldwide.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is more than just a fighting game – it’s a celebration of video game history. The lovingly designed characters, the extensive collection of music and the diverse game modes provide hours of entertainment and make the game an absolute must-have for anyone who wants to combine action and nostalgia in one package. Whether in local multiplayer or against online opponents, the game offers something for everyone and always remains exciting thanks to continuous updates and new content. The best fighting game of the Nintendo Switch games.
4th place: Metroid Prime Remastered
Metroid Prime Remastered brings back the classic Nintendo game and lets fans and new players immerse themselves in the iconic world of Samus Aran. The remastered version of the game originally released in 2002 shines with modern graphics and improved controls, while retaining the original charm and atmosphere of the Metroid series. Players once again take on the role of Samus and explore the mysterious, alien-infested world of the planet Tallon IV, solving action-packed battles as well as gripping puzzles.
The remaster offers a fascinating mix of exploration and action. The mixture of first-person gameplay, collecting power-ups and fighting powerful bosses makes for an intense and varied experience. Thanks to the technical improvements, the world of Metroid Prime is now even more alive, with detailed textures, optimized lighting effects and reworked camera work that further refine the feel of the game. At the same time, the controls have been adapted to suit modern gaming habits, making the gaming experience much smoother and more accessible.
Metroid Prime Remastered preserves the essence of the original while giving it a fresh sheen. The remaster is a perfect opportunity for those who have never played the game, as well as longtime fans who want to experience Samus’ adventures with state-of-the-art technology. With its compelling story, challenging puzzles and iconic atmosphere, Metroid Prime remains a landmark in action-adventure gaming and offers an unforgettable experience for all players.
3rd place: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The game introduces innovative new gameplay elements where Link is able to interact with the environment and connect objects to solve puzzles or gain strategic advantages in battle. This mechanic opens up a multitude of possibilities and provides creative solutions that make exploration and combat even more exciting. There are also new areas this time that lead into the skies above Hyrule, further expanding the already vast realm and adding a new dimension to the game.
Tears of the Kingdom combines the deep story of Zelda with the open-ended gameplay that fans love, bringing a host of new features that make the game exciting for newcomers and long-time fans of the series alike. With impressive graphics, emotional music and a gripping narrative, the game sets new standards in the action-adventure gaming world and offers an unforgettable experience for all players in search of an epic adventure.
2nd place: Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey is an action-packed 3D platformer adventure that sends Mario on an exciting journey around the globe. In the game, the iconic plumber and his new companion, Cappy, embark on a mission to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser, who is planning to marry her. Mario visits various imaginative worlds, ranging from realistic cities to surreal, colorful landscapes, and must solve numerous puzzles and defeat enemies along the way.
A standout feature of Super Mario Odyssey is the innovative mechanic of “Cappy”, his cap that allows Mario to take control of certain enemies and objects. This ability opens up new gameplay possibilities as Mario can transform into different creatures and use their abilities to overcome challenges and discover secret areas. With this new dynamic, the game feels fresh and varied as the player must constantly develop new strategies.
The game combines the classic Mario formula with modern elements and shines with its open world, where players can discover numerous secrets in every environment. With a vibrant and creative game world, catchy music and numerous collectibles, Super Mario Odyssey offers an unforgettable adventure that is accessible to both long-time Mario fans and newcomers alike.
1st place: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild revolutionizes the famous Zelda series with an open world that offers players complete freedom. The game also caused a genuine revolution in the genre of open-world games. In the game, you take on the role of Link, who wakes up in a destroyed world after a long sleep. The once thriving world of Hyrule is threatened by the dark power of Ganon, and Link must embark on an epic journey to save the kingdom. He has the freedom to explore Hyrule in any order he chooses and shape his adventures in his own way.
The game relies on a huge, seamlessly connected world that allows players to explore everything they can see. With an impressive physics engine and a complex weather system, both puzzles and battles can be tackled in different ways. Whether by climbing, riding, swimming or using elements such as fire and water, the world of Breath of the Wild offers countless ways to overcome challenges and take advantage of nature.
In addition to the open world, the game offers an in-depth story and innovative gameplay that entices with numerous puzzles, challenging battles and many hidden secrets. Blending discovery, adventure and strategic combat, Breath of the Wild is a unique experience that will delight both old fans of the series and newcomers alike.
Breath of the Wild therefore takes the crown as the best Nintendo Switch game, as the open-world game released back in 2017 has had a significant influence on the genre. In contrast to its successor Tears of the Kingdom, which builds on the gameplay of the first game, the title felt fresh and innovative at the time. Incidentally, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is ranked the 6th best video game of all time on the Metacritic platform.
The best Nintendo Switch games: Conclusion
So you can see for yourself: The list of the best Nintendo Switch games includes some absolute highlights and some of the best video games ever developed. Whether shooter, role-playing game, racing game or adventure: all genres are covered on the hybrid console from Nintendo.
From family-friendly games to adult content, the Nintendo Switch offers a huge line-up of excellent games that are guaranteed to appeal to everyone. Let’s hope that this continues with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 in a similar quality.
