The 10 best Nintendo Switch games –

(10) Pikmin 4

There’s something very special baked into Nintendo’s own sweetheart version of Command & Conquer, and we have no problem calling the fourth game, for Switch, the best of them all. It often starts with playing for a while, only to realize six hours later that the whole day is over. The audiovisual design here is absolutely phenomenal, as are the game mechanics, which have been honed and improved over the years. We just love Pikmin 4.

(09) Metroid Dread

It’s always nice to see our dear bounty hunter Samus Aran again, and Metroid Dread was certainly no exception. As in its predecessor Metroid Fusion, which is so old that it was released for the Gameboy Advance, we were treated to absolutely brilliant adventures. However, it undeniably took its time and at the beginning of development it was supposed to be released for the Nintendo DS, but it wasn’t. 19 years later we got the final result and most things were really done here, everything from the fine Metroidvania elements to the beautiful game mechanics. As if that wasn’t enough, we were also treated to fantastic boss fights and sweet music that clearly involved Kenji Yamamoto, just like so many times before in the series. We can only conclude that it was worth waiting 19 years for this, and we hope the sequel won’t take as long. Metroid Dread was one of the best games of 2021 and if we now sum up the Nintendo Switch ahead of the upcoming release of Nintendo Switch 2, we can only consider Samus’ latest adventure one of the ten best games for the console ever.

(08) Super Mario Odyssey

We liked Super Mario Odyssey when it was released in November 2017. Eight years have almost passed, but it still feels like yesterday that we first met Cappy and joined him and the nondescript pipe cleaner (as Petter called Mario in his review) on such a classic, cozy Nintendo adventure. The controls were perfect, the design was ultra-cute, the aesthetics varied and the gameplay was charming, which is something of a trademark when Nintendo makes the right Mario titles. The worlds were full of little Easter eggs and you could spend many long hours chasing stars and messing around with mini-games, as well as fighting the game’s many bosses. The dinosaur you get to ride on one of the game’s early worlds is one of those gameplay moments we won’t forget. Also a visit to the Mushroom Kingdom and all the switching between 2D and 3D – but when we got to play as Bowser himself at the end of the game, we realized this was a special adventure. We are grateful for Odyssey and hope Nintendo delivers something with the same heart when it comes time for a Mario title on Switch 2.

(07) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

It’s not often that Nintendo follows up a Zelda adventure with something quite similar. The last time this happened was with the Nintendo 64 adventures Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. Many would argue that the leap between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom was not great. That, along with the novelty of Breath of the Wild when Hyrule became a fully open world, is what makes Tears of the Kingdom perhaps a little too familiar. But Nintendo also tweaked almost every aspect between the two games. Hyrule wasn’t exactly larger in terms of land mass or particularly different on the ground. But there were islands in the sky and an underground to explore. In addition, Link’s abilities were quite different than in its predecessor. Now you had the ability to attach objects to each other, so with a little creativity you could create only what your own imagination allowed. This meant that the game’s temples could now be solved in even more varied ways and formed the basis for many of the game’s best puzzles. With two absolutely phenomenal Zelda games for the Nintendo Switch, all fans of this series had much to look forward to during these years with the console. Of course, it speaks volumes about Nintendo’s standards to be able to offer us two adventures, in the same series, that end up on our top list of the console’s best titles (spoiler).

(06) Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem as a franchise has roots all the way back to the 1990s and Nintendo’s very first consoles. However, it wasn’t until the arrival of the Switch that the series would truly become a sales success with the release of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. The tactical foundation of previous titles was still intact, but developer Intelligent System added an expanded focus on the characters, relationships and activities that took place before and after each battle. It was a natural evolution of the role-playing elements, and we at the editorial team quickly joined the chorus of praise when it came to 2019. Three Houses not only offered premium quality, but it backed it up with a wealth of quality content that kept us engaged for hundreds of hours, with new characters and stories that kept us coming back again and again. Fire Emblem has a long and noble history, but the series has never been better than with the release of Three Houses.

(05) Animal Crossing: New horizons

It was a messy world and the pandemic was at its worst. At that moment, we stepped off a boat onto a desert island, ready to start a new life. We built a house, fished at sunset, planted our own garden and socialized with friends – both real and digital. It may sound like a dream, but Animal Crossing: New Horizons was very real and dangerously addictive. It is the game that turned us all into interior designers, gardeners and debt slaves to the untrustworthy raccoon Tom Nook who, despite his friendly demeanor, led the world’s most efficient capitalist experiment. We started with a tent and soon had a three-story villa, astronomical debt and an obsession with finding the right wallpaper for the living room. New Horizons was and is more than just a charming life simulator. It is a place where we could relax and just do what we loved while a whole world grew on our terms. A kind of happiness bubble that offered new surprises every day, from special visitors to seasonal events, the game had a magical ability to make even the most stressful day a little lighter. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the game that acts as a digital holiday when we need it most. And honestly, who can say no to that?

(04) Monster Hunter Rise

Following up on the monumental success that was Monster Hunter World was no easy task for Capcom in 2021, and it didn’t get any easier given the inferior performance of the Nintendo Switch compared to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Once the smoke cleared, however, Monster Hunter Rise would go down in history as one of the absolute highlights of the series, and with a new focus on portability, the title quickly became a favorite for many of us here at the editorial office. The ability to seek out an aggressive Diablos or a fire-breathing Rathalos on the go continued to entertain, and with new monsters such as the graceful Mizutsune and the majestic Magnamalo, the developer added even more brilliant design to the already eminent ensemble of beasts that have ennobled the series since 2004. Capcom then continued down this path with the release of the expansion called Sunbreak in 2022, and with even more monsters to defeat and environments to explore, Monster Hunter Rise turned from one of the best games in the series into one of the best Switch games, in all categories.

(03) The legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This is how it began for the Nintendo Switch. And ended for the Wii U. The great goodbye of one Nintendo console became the flagship of the new one. And what a flagship it was. The scene where Link ran onto the great plateau and we saw Hyrule at his feet is to this day an absolutely magical moment. Then began one of the most expansive adventures. Nintendo had so much to explore, but best of all, it was an adventure you could play your way through. Everyone took different paths to the next destination, the game’s temples could be solved in different creative ways, and although it deviated from the traditional Zelda formula in a lot of ways, many of us appreciated every possible element the game introduced us to. There are few adventures where an open world is a playground like this one, and few games have made that playground so entertaining. Of course, not everyone was entirely happy with weapon breaking and, to be a bit critical, even Nintendo’s new console struggled at times to maintain a stable image update. Few doubted the game’s enjoyment, however, and it was also by far the best-seller in the series. When it came to reviews and ratings, it is really only Link’s first adventure for the Nintendo 64 that is seen as more unbiasedly praised. Just as it is an immortal classic, The Legend Zelda: Breath of the Wild will certainly become one over time.

(02) Mario Kart 8: Deluxe

Year after year after year, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been our most-played Switch title, which is pretty remarkable considering that it was actually released 11 years ago for the Wii U. The phenomenal Switch version Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is, in short, the guy who shows up first, has the most fun and still refuses to go home – and in fact, it’s gotten better and better over time thanks to some absolutely fantastic DLC that has doubled the number of tracks. With its razor-sharp controls, superior track layout and a selection of drivers ranging from Mario to a Wiggler, this is nothing short of concentrated gaming fun. No other game manages to make us simultaneously cheer and scream in frustration. One minute you’re leading a perfect skid through a delightful Rainbow Road interpretation, the next you get a blue shell in your back and see your life flash before your eyes. The fact that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can also be played by anyone – grandma, your little sibling, the professional gamer or that friend who “doesn’t really like games” – makes it the ultimate party starter. Add to that great online support, Battle Mode and a really swinging soundtrack, and you have a game that is impossible to get bored on.

THE VERY BEST SWITCH GAME:

(01) Super Smash Bros: Ultimate

Very few games come close to Super Smash Bros Ultimate in terms of pure gaming enjoyment, and we’re talking about the entire gaming world, not just the Switch. Not only is this the most comprehensive and richest fighting game ever made, it is just as much a declaration of love for gaming history. With more than 80 playable characters, a soundtrack featuring hundreds of iconic songs and a huge amount of levels based on beloved Nintendo worlds and game modes, Ultimate is a platform for what can only be described as endless entertainment. Whether you want to play on your own and battle your way through the ambitious World of Light mode, or gather friends for chaotic battles on the couch, Super Smash Bros Ultimate delivers every time. The fact that Nintendo is releasing the game shows that the balance of accessibility and depth allows beginners and veterans alike to enjoy the mascot chaos on their own terms. Combine this with a netcode that has improved over time, unmatched DLC support, a community that is still growing and core mechanics that have been honed for more than 20 years, and you have a winner and a timeless classic that we honestly find hard to imagine ever being surpassed.