10. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Programmer: Nintendo

Release Date: 28th Apr 2017 (U.s.) / 28th Apr 2017 (U.k./Eu)

Mario Kart viii Deluxe delivers a huge corporeality of racing goodness right out of the box; a polished version of a Wii U entry that was only a proper Boxing Mode away from being height of course. Information technology'south the definitive Mario Kart 8 experience, content-rich and a delightful feast of comedic, cartoonish karting action. Information technology's a game that continually raises a smile and, occasionally, induces that trademark Mario Kart rage equally shells strike and positions are lost. It's addictive and unifying, unfiltered fun that draws in anyone daring enough to take up the wheel.

And the improver of 48 more than courses with the awkwardly named Mario Kart viii Palatial Booster Course Pass DLC? Well, that'due south simply more icing on an already-one thousand cake, isn't it?

9. Hades (Switch eShop)

Hades (Switch eShop) Hades (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Supergiant Games / Developer: Supergiant Games

Release Engagement: 17th Sep 2020 (United states) / 17th Sep 2020 (UK/Eu)

Hades is a sublime mix of satisfyingly gritty and flexible combat, a wonderfully vibrant art way and genuinely fun and engaging narrative. Supergiant Games has an excellent track tape with games like Bastion and Transistor, but this really does experience its finest hour, a rip-roaring rampage through the underworld that's arrived here on Switch in a port that's virtually-on perfect. Even if you're even so to be swayed by the admittedly repetitive ebb and menstruum of roguelikes, we passionately urge you to at to the lowest degree give this roguelite a try; for fans of the genre or anyone fifty-fifty remotely interested, this is one heavenly vision of hell that we highly recommend you sacrifice yourself to.

eight. Super Mario 3D Globe + Bowser'southward Fury (Switch)

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch) Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo

Release Engagement: twelfth Feb 2021 (U.s.) / twelfth February 2021 (UK/Eu)

Super Mario 3D Globe + Bowser's Fury takes everything that made the cat-filled Wii U original special and throws in various small gameplay tweaks to make it even more than enjoyable. As the just four-thespian 3D Mario game, it fuses the liberty of the third dimension with the spirit of the tighter, more than constrained (notwithstanding no less imaginative) courses from his 2nd games to wonderful upshot. Super Mario 3D World is a colourful and unintimidating introduction to a larger Super Mario world, and a joy for veterans of the Z-axis to boot.

The original game is sublime in its own right, but the boosted open-world-y Bowser'due south Fury mode packaged with the Switch version makes this an essential purchase even if you 100%-ed the game on Wii U. The only existent mark against the awkwardly acronym-ed SM3DW+BF is patchy online multiplayer implementation, simply this Switch release is otherwise up there with the very best of the plumber'due south ouevre. Dog lovers should probably steer clear; everyone else, bound to it.

7. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch) Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)

Publisher: Square Enix / Programmer: Square Enix

Release Appointment: 27th Sep 2019 (The states) / 27th Sep 2019 (United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland/EU)

Originally released for 3DS (and PS4) in Japan, the cumbersomely named Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is one of the best games Square has ever put its proper name to, apparently and simple — and this Switch release was a fine port, too. Featuring a heartwarming, well-paced narrative supported by a bandage of fantastic characters, a dumbo and interesting overworld packed with dozens of hours of content, and 1 of the finest soundtracks we've heard in a JRPG, it all combines to brand this an unforgettable modernistic classic. Whether you're a newcomer to the series (or genre) or a returning vet, do yourself a favor and become yourself a copy of Dragon Quest XI every bit shortly as yous're able. This is the prototype of a gift that keeps on giving, and information technology more than deserves a spot in your Switch library.

6. Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch)

Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch) Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: HAL Laboratory

Release Date: 25th Mar 2022 (Usa) / 25th Mar 2022 (Great britain/European union)

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a great big colourful joyride of an adventure for our little pink pal. This offset fully 3 dimensional mainline entry in the franchise is bursting at the seams with fun and creativity, managing to transpose everything nosotros know and honey about past Kirby games to this all-new arena whilst adding enough of delightful new aspects as information technology goes. Mouthful Mode is just as daftly entertaining equally it looked in the trailers, each and every level is packed full of secrets and dripping in wonderful detail, and there are plenty side activities, collectibles and co-op fun hither to keep y'all entertained and coming back for more for a good long while.

5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo

Release Appointment: 7th Dec 2018 (USA) / 7th Dec 2018 (Uk/EU)

How does this 'ultimate' version of Nintendo's scrapper stack up? Song concerns nigh by games were actively addressed, every single fighter from the series is present (even Pichu) and joined past an ever-expanding roster of DLC characters class the annals of gaming, the customisability is overwhelmingly vast and it'south all topped off with super-solid single-thespian modes to boot. We're not sure how you lot could make a more robust or pleasing Smash game - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate truly is the ultimate instalment in the series, and it makes you wonder where Masahiro Sakurai tin possibly take this franchise next.

iv. Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)

Super Mario Odyssey (Switch) Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Programmer: Nintendo

Release Date: 27th Oct 2017 (Usa) / 27th October 2017 (UK/Eu)

There's an statement to exist fabricated that Mario 64 never got a 'true' sequel until this game: Sunshine's FLUDD muddied the waters with its characteristic set; the Milky way games cleverly eschewed large open worlds for impeccably crafted planetoids designed around specific gameplay elements; 3D Land and 3D World were deliberately constrained with linear blueprint to attract players of 2d Mario into the third dimension.

Super Mario Odyssey was a return for the 'sandbox' way of Mario adventure players had been pining for since 1996, and it delivers everything you could want and more. Cappy's capture abilities go along things fresh in an game which blends all sorts of mechanics and art styles into an improbably coherent, compelling whole. It really shouldn't work, just the mastery of its execution makes the realistic man-style inhabitants of New Donk Urban center, the anthropomorphic cutlery of Luncheon Kingdom, and the large-eyed cute characters of Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom clan feel like they belong side-past-side in the aforementioned game.

Mario Odyssey is an utterly remarkable entry in this well-nigh celebrated of serial and should be considered an essential purchase whether you like Mario or not.

iii. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch)

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch) Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Monolith Soft

Release Date: 29th May 2020 (Usa) / 29th May 2020 (United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland/Eu)

At that place's almost nothing one tin can reasonably mutter about with Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. It's an already-splendid JRPG that has been improved in near every conceivable way, short of a complete reimagining. On top of the fantastic story, enjoyable combat, and incredible world design, Monolith Soft has included an entirely new epilogue story arc while improving upon and polishing up well-nigh everything in the base game, from progression systems to visuals to UI blueprint.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is easily 1 of the greatest RPGs bachelor on the Switch. It goes without proverb that if you were ever a fan of the original, or of RPGs in full general, you admittedly must get this game for your collection. Even if you wouldn't consider yourself a fan, nosotros would still strongly encourage you to recall about it; this is the standard against which all RPGs should be judged.

2. Metroid Dread (Switch)

Metroid Dread (Switch) Metroid Dread (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo

Release Appointment: eighth October 2021 (USA) / 8th Oct 2021 (UK/EU)

Metroid Dread is a triumphant render for both Samus Aran and developer MercurySteam. This is a super-slick, hugely entertaining and exquisitely designed entry in the Metroid franchise that plays ameliorate than anything we've seen from the series so far. With a bunch of fantastic new abilities, super tense and enjoyable stealth sections, plenty of great big boss fights and a story that fans will definitely relish, nosotros can't actually see how this one could have been improved.

Best Metroid game always? There'll likely exist calls of recency bias until the hype settles in a year or two (probably around the release of Metroid Prime four, in fact), but there's a very strong argument that second Metroid has never been better.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo SPD

Release Engagement: tertiary Mar 2017 (USA) / 3rd Mar 2017 (UK/Eu)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a landmark release for its franchise and Nintendo. It's the kickoff fourth dimension that Nintendo truly took on the open-world genre, and past arriving belatedly to the political party it embraces the strengths from superlative-of-the-grade games while also forging its ain unique identity. This game was a revolution for the series, but the Legend of Zelda essence is still at that place — its soul remains, and the end result is captivating. Later years of following the same old template, Nintendo bravely took the Zelda series in a new direction, and delivered an absolute triumph which still has u.s. regularly revisiting its iteration of Hyrule.

No wonder we're so excited almost the prospect of a direct sequel; Breath of the Wild forged a new and exciting path in a franchise that had been treading old basis for a while on home consoles and we cannot expect to see where it goes next.


Disagree with this ranking? Time to get rating your favourites, so — remember, this is a fluid, ever-changing selection governed by each game'southward Nintendo Life User Rating. Click the 'Games' tab at the elevation of the page to find all the Switch games and come across about getting your favourite Switch games on the list.

With so many games, lots are going to fall through the cracks. What are your favourites that perhaps didn't make this acme 50 (yet)? Share your thoughts beneath.

This article is ane of our Switch Essentials guides which embrace a wide variety of genres, including the All-time Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. Nosotros can also help out hunting downward the Best Switch Horror Games, the All-time Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the All-time Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the All-time Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-Earth Games, All-time Switch Soulslike Games, All-time LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After Y'all've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football game Games, Funny Games, Golf game Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Alone Hearts, Detective Games, Subconscious Gems, second Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Menu Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.

Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Infinite Combat, Indicate and Click Take a chance Games, and the All-time Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, All-time Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, All-time Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!

If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you lot out, and you tin besides find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. And finally, if y'all're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, All-time GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, All-time NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, every bit well equally Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Bulldoze Game.