Top 5 Best Switch Games of Q4 2017

SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY

Nintendo reinvented itself in 2017, not just in its hardware but in its software too, and Super Mario Odyssey is the perfect example of that  as it helped lead the Switch to even greater heights during its Q4 release schedule. Taking what we’ve come to expect from the series and mixing in some wild and imaginative new ideas, Mario’s latest 3D adventure feels a lot like Zelda: Breath of the Wild in that it’s entirely familiar yet wholly unique at the same time. It’s also full of charm, wit and color unlike pretty much anything else that came out this year. Whilst Link’s newest adventure may be getting all the plaudits, Mario’s is right on its tail.

You haven’t lived until you throw Cappy at a T-Rex, but there’s so much to do here beyond just playing around with real dinosaurs, though we won’t hold it against you if that’s all you do. There’s a ton of moons, mini-games, hidden collectables, the most wardrobe changes in Mario history and (speaking of history) plenty of references to the former plumbers’ past to keep fans happy.

STARDEW VALLEY

The indie darling had a really strong launch for the Switch and, despite a few minor bugs, is just as complete and addictive as its previous versions. Plus, being on a portable console meant that you could spend even more time on your farm or digging for treasure than ever before … which, upon reflection, is probably a bad thing. Anyway, Stardew Valley will hold up for a long time as one of the best indie releases in recent years, which suits the Switch perfectly with its pixel art visuals and similarities to Harvest Moon. It can easily chew up your train rides or long drives with boring family members or friends.

The thing that makes Stardew Valley stand out above all else, however, is the fact that there really isn’t any rules to follow. You can go out and build the greatest farm ever, or spend all your time digging down the mines, or focus on the smaller things like being the ultimate chicken breeder … ultimately the choice is up to you.

ROCKET LEAGUE

Rocket League has a distinct advantage over most of its rival sports releases on the Switch. For one, there’s cross-play support between Switch owners and existing players on Xbox One and PC. But secondly, and arguably more importantly, you play football with high-powered race cars that don’t keel over at the faintest of touches. Rocket League is a silky smooth experience whether you play in handheld or desktop mode and the full package features every pre-existing mode, option and extras that have been released on other systems, plus a few Nintendo specific exclusives just for fun. It’s the most complete ‘sports’ game on Nintendo’s console so far and worth checking out if you’re still sitting on the fence.

The biggest selling point is that cross-play functionality. Having a growing Nintendo fan base combined with an already established group of players (and a lot of them) is a huge bonus for those that pick the game up that will hopefully lead to other future titles following suit.

THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM

The fact that you can play one of the best modern RPG’s in gaming history on a portable system at any time is an achievement in itself, but credit to Bethesda for putting in the hard work to make Skyrim just as enjoyable an experience for the Switch compared to every pre-existing release. Besides a few Zelda specific items added in for the laughs, everything else here is as you may (or may not) remember it and everything holds up rather well, with very little slowdown or bugs in sight … well, apart from the ones that are clearly kept in deliberately, of course.

Skyrim is still as engaging as ever, and now you can save an entire kingdom from ravaging dragons from the comfort of your own bathroom toilet. There might not be mods or weird, Macho Man dragons roaming the countryside, but the regular Skyrim experience is still worth exploring for its depth and intriguing story. And that title music track will live forever!

XENOBLADE CHRONICLES 2

Along with Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was marketed as one of the biggest exclusives for the console to round out the year, and luckily for everyone involved it didn’t disappoint. Sure some of the English dialogue is a little iffy at times, but that doesn’t take away from the massive adventure and engaging combat through-out the world of Elysium. The 70+ hours of that await you will keep you engaged with plenty of color and a mix of modern and traditional role-playing mechanics, all backed by what many consider to be one of the best soundtracks of the year. It’s an impressive package overall, and if you were to combine Xenoblade with Skyrim for your holiday travels, you’d have plenty to keep you occupied.

That’s just five of the biggest releases that reached the Switch over the last quarter of the year, but there’s been a ton more both in physical form and on the eShop. Which ones did you enjoy the most? Let us know in the comments below.