Best Nintendo Switch Games of All Time

While it has only been out for a few years as compared to its home console competitors, the Nintendo Switch has already built up an impressive library of games. Featuring a mix of classics such as Super Mario Odyssey and recent standouts, here are the best Nintendo Switch games of all time.

Best Nintendo Switch Games of All Time

1. Mario Tennis Aces

Mario Tennis Aces brings in a ton of characters from the Mario universe into one of the greatest sports of all time, Tennis. You can go online to face off with your friends, or chill out by yourself in the story mode. Either way, Mario Tennis Aces is a very entertaining, no matter what you decide to do.

2. GRIS

GRIS tells an emotional tale without the use of any dialog or text; it’s up to the player to decide what the actual story is here. GRIS places you in the shoes of a young woman who has to bring back color to her world while exploring serene and also treacherous areas.

3. Katana Zero

If Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Hotline Miami had a baby, Katana Zero would be the name of that love-child. Mixing fast-paced sword-swinging action and twitch-based movements, Katana Zero will make you feel like a god when you land the perfect kills.

4. Dead Cells

Dead Cells is a roguelike Metroidvania-styled platformer that has you exploring a mysterious castle loaded with terrifying enemies. Every time you die, you get sent back to the beginning of the game but with more experience and skills under your belt.

5. Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight takes place in a scary underground world full of ugly bugs, creatures, and overall, disgusting little critters. You don’t start off with a map in this indie platformer, so the world is yours to explore as you see fit.

6. Pokemon Let’s Go

Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee is a full-fledged modern adaptation of Pokemon Yellow and introduces some quality of life changes as well as Pokemon GO integration to the series. Going through the Kanto region in HD is just as fun as it was back in the day.

7. Yoshi’s Crafted World

Yoshi’s Crafted World gives us a wonderful and oh so cute world made of arts, crafts, cardboard, and tons of other household items. If you thought Yoshi games were adorable before, then think again.

8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the fighting crossover game on the Switch that is a must-own for any Nintendo fan, or fans of video games in general. Every past fighter is back on the roster and this fighting game celebrates the history of gaming in the best way possible.

9. Cuphead

This port of the excellent 2D platformer plays just as well as it did on the Xbox One and PC, and proves that platformers are stronger than ever. Cuphead is a brutally challenging boss rush of a game but you’ll be completely satisfied once you eventually beat it.

10. Celeste

Celeste has you playing as a girl named Madeline who is attempting to push back her anxiety and fears to climb up a very tall mountain. This challenging platformer will require the utmost patience and skill to surpass the stages and levels presented to you.

11. 1-2 Switch

While it will forever be known as the game that everyone wished was a pack-in game like Wii Sports was, 1-2 Switch is still a great title to show off your console to friends. It’s an excellent party game and something that both gamers and non-gamers will find to be fun and easy to play.

12. Pokken Tournament

An updated version of the bizarre Pokemon/Tekken hybrid game, Pokken Tournament DX brings along improved visuals and more fighters including ones previously exclusive to the arcade version and is the definitive edition of the game.

13. Rocket League

Originally released for the PS4 and PC, Rocket League found its way to the Nintendo Switch and it’s a perfect fit for the console. While its visuals take a small hit in portable mode, it’s a rare breed of competitive games that can be enjoyed casually while cozy on a couch or in bed.

14. Cave Story +

Cave Story is one of the all-time great indie games and this edition for the Switch is the definitive version of it. The action-platformer/metroidvania game is well polished and features multiple endings to its plot.

15. Enter the Gungeon

Enter the Gungeon is one of those games that almost felt like it was just waiting for a system like the Switch to come along. This fast-paced, fun, but punishing rogue-like is tailor-made for the Switch’s portable mode.

16.  Sonic Mania

Sonic Mania is the game fans have been asking SEGA for, for over a decade and finally SEGA put a team together that could deliver. If you’re a fan of the blue blur, and all you’ve wanted is something that builds on, and improves on, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, Sonic Mania does just that.

17. Snipperclips

Snipperclips, like 1-2 Switch, is another game that is designed to be played with friends. It’s simple to learn and people of all varying skill levels can work together and come up with their own ways to complete the game’s puzzles.

18. ARMS

ARMS is a unique fighter that takes the popular Wii Boxing game mechanics to the next level. ARMS is surprisingly complex, with a wide roster of fighters each with their own unique mechanics and fighting styles. If you’re up against someone good,, flailing around won’t get you anywhere.

19. Golf Story

Golf Story surprised many gamers in 2017. Being a RPG/Golf hybrid game is strange and unique enough, but it actually is a pretty meaty package that successfully merges quirky golf gameplay with an interesting story to follow.

20. SteamWorld Dig 2

The Switch really is chock-full of indies isn’t it? SteamWorld Dig 2 is another excellent indie game. If you’ve played any of the other games in the series, or just really like old-school platformer/metroidvania games, then SteamWorld Dig 2 is an excellent game to pick up.

21. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove

Another indie darling, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is another complete and enhanced port for the Switch. Shovel Knight is a return to classic 8-bit action platforming and is one of the most critically acclaimed, and well-polished indie games of all-time.

22. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley, despite being independently developed, is the best Harvest Moon style/inspired game to come out over the last few years. You are given total freedom to build up your farming empire any way that you like, and have so much stuff you can do, you’ll never have time to do it all in one day.

23. Doom

Simply put, DOOM is one of the best FPS games to come out this generation. If you have any affinity for old-school shooter games where you’re nigh unstoppable and capable of crushing anything that stands in your way, DOOM is worth picking up. Plus, it runs great on the Switch whether you’re docked, or in portable mode.

24. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 is one of the most colorful and pretty games on the Switch, and we’re glad Nintendo decided to port this over from the Wii U. It’s very similar to the Wii U version, but are few games more universally loved by both gamers and non-gamers than Mario Kart. You can’t go wrong bringing this one over to a friends’ house.

25. Splatoon 2

Instead of porting over the Wii U version, Nintendo decided to do a full-fledged sequel instead. It turned out to be a good move as the game is a marked improvement over the original, and is simple enough for newcomers but deep and strategic enough for those that want to take it super serious and rank up.

26. Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 release in late 2017 and is the sequel to the critically acclaimed and popular Xenoblade Chronicles released on the Wii. If you’re looking for a lengthy FFXII-style RPG that allows you to explore a massive open-world, and has a very complex battle system, you’ll get what you want out of Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

27. Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was one of the biggest surprises from 2017. Mostly because A: even the most creative child probably never dreamed up a turn-based strategy RPG featuring the characters of Rabbids and Super Mario and B: that it would actually be really, really good.

28. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Despite being old, and ported to almost every console imaginable, there’s a good reason it doesn’t just go away. It’s that good. Plus with the Switch, you can obviously play Skyrim on the go. A game as massive and sprawling as Skyrim that you can play anywhere. A dream come true for RPG fans.2

29. Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey is plumber’s grand return to the collect-a-thon 3D platformer genre. While it faces stiff competition, from well, itself in the form of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Odyssey charts its own path. It feels very different from those games, while also adding just the right amount of nostalgia and familiarity to older fans.

30. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Our game of the year of 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is probably the greatest launch title ever, and also among the greatest games ever made. There’s little debate, if you own a Nintendo Switch, you should also own Breath of the Wild. It’s Link and Zelda at their finest, with the added twist of a massive and beautiful open world.

31. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is a remastered port of the Wii title with the same name. It has tons of improvements and changes that make it one of the best JRPGs on the system. There’s a new epilogue for returning players to dive into and the sprawling world is such a joy to explore.

32. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons took over the world when it first released, immedialte pulling people into the relaxed life sim world full of talking animals and money-hungry raccoons. New Horizons lets you live out your perfect island life by allowing you to customize everything until your heart’s content. This will definitely be known as one of the best Nintendo Switch games ever.

33. Ring Fit Adventure

Ring Fit Adventure is a new fitness game to come from Nintendo years after the Wii Fit days. It masterfully blends RPG-style combat with exercising and it’s a fantastic way to break a sweat without feeling like you’re not having fun.

34. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Link’s Awakening is a remake of the classic Game Boy game from the 90s with the same name and it’s a wonderful little adventure starring Link. He ends up on a mysterious island full of secrets and odd characters and he’s tasked with awakening the almighty Wind Fish from its slumber.

35. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi’s Mansion 3 puts Luigi into yet another haunted location, but this time he acquires the help of a green glob named Gooigi that can slip through cracks and go into grates. This third entry in the puzzle-solving, ghost-sucking series combines the best parts of the series and mashes it into one, jam-packed journey.

36. Astral Chain

Astral Chain comes from developer PlatinumGames and it’s just as wild as you would expect from the team that created Bayonetta. You get to control two futuristic anime cops that can enter different dimensions with robotic, crime-fighting partners. The combat is so deep and versatile, allowing for tons of possibilities during fights.

37. Super Mario Maker 2

Now that people can create their own Mario course worlds in Super Mario Maker 2, it’s literally improved the game so much that it feels like a brand-new sequel. It takes what makes Super Mario Maker so great and adds a ton of improvements, and there’s even a single-player campaign with a lot of Nintendo-made levels to keep you busy.

38. Pokemon Sword and Shield

Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Galar region is bustling with new Pokemon to catch, gyms to take down, and gorgeous towns/ctities to explore. The base game is jam-packed with content already but if you crave even more Pokemon, the new DLC should help you out.

39. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Harry Potter x Fire Emblem is essentially how someone would descirbe the premise of Three Houses. You get to pick one of the three houses at the beginning of the game and then you play as a teacher who can interact with their students and grow bonds with them. After you have a cup of tea, you will then go out to the battlefield and kill a bunch of bad guys –sounds like a good time to me.

That does it for our list of the best Nintendo Switch games of all time. Is there something we’re missing you think? Let us know in the comments below.