Best Switch Games: Top 10 games to buy for Nintendo Switch

Metroid Dread is one of the best Swith games that we’ve tested on the Nintendo Switch, with faultless combat mechanics and stunning 3D cutscenes. We noted in our review how bright and bold the colours looked, especially on a Switch OLED, with Samus’ suit almost popping out of our display.

We do concede that this game may not be for everyone; we found that the harder difficulty may make this a little inaccessible for younger players, though we loved how challenging this game was. Relentless pursuers in the stealth sections really upped the scare factor for us, and made the title feel really satisfying to complete. 

Unlike other Metroidvania games, we loved how Dread always felt like a non-linear game but proved difficult to get completely lost, despite having so many vast areas to explore. We also liked how many skills and upgrades you can unlock, including the Phantom Cloak that enables you to turn invisible and avoid detection. 

There are plenty of other Metroidvania-style games to consider if Dread seems like too much of a challenge, including Ori and the Will of the Wisps, while indie gems such as Hollow Knight retains the high difficulty but swaps sci-fi guns for melee weapons. But if you want a game in the same vein as Super Metroid, then Metroid Dread is our top recommendation.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Metroid Dread Review

Moving from one of the hardest games on our list to one of the most relaxing, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the best game our reviewer played in 2020 and is still one of our favourite titles two years on.

After being dropped off on an island, you’re given the freedom to explore and build up your own community, slowly upgrading a tent into a huge house. From the moment we made it onto Tom Nook’s island we were enraptured, with wonderfully inclusive avatar creation and vastly expanded options for hairstyles and skin tones.

During the review, we noted that there are plenty of things you can do each day, with the game actively encouraging you to poke and prod at everything you see. This added to our overall sense of wonder as you explore more of your island. 

Stardew Valley is another amazing option if you’re looking for a little more structure in your fantastical-fake town. But while Stardew Valley is a little more complex, New Horizons is perfect for players of all ages and we guarantee that even after days of gameplay you will be coming back for more.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full Review: Animal Crossing New Horizons Review

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may be a remastered edition of the Wii U entry, but we found the Switch’s bonus of portability really took this game up a gear, allowing you to get some laps in on your daily commute before committing to a Grand Prix on the big screen back home.

Our reviewer’s favourite aspect of this game is Battle Mode, making a welcome return to the series and featuring five modes. Each one is incredibly fun to play and brings in eight well-designed battle courses. The new courses keep the game feeling fresh and the extra modes make the game feel a lot more full, giving players even more to conquer. 

With many games on this list coming in as single-player experiences, this is one of the best multiplayer titles available in general, never mind just for the Switch. Our review found local multiplayer (which is supported with up to eight consoles) to be extremely worthwhile, as you can race against friends or take on players from around the globe. 

While there are plenty of other cart racers on the Nintendo Switch, including the likes of Team Sonic Racing and Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, nothing comes close to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe given its wealth of characters, race courses and items.

Reviewer: Brett Phipps
Full Review: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Coming in as one of the best Switch games we’ve ever reviewed, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is arguably one of the very first titles you should add to your library. 

We loved how this game unleashes you on the huge world of Hyrule and dares you to explore, with no cumbersome tutorials eating up the first hour of gameplay. The game promotes freedom like we’ve not seen before, with a landscape that is undeniably beautiful and awash with vibrant colours.

Our review also found this game to be surprisingly challenging, yet incredibly rewarding at the same time. Discovering the Master Sword was one of the most satisfying gaming experiences we’ve had in recent years. 

With the incredible variety of gameplay on offer, it’s no wonder why Breath of the Wild is still a fan favourite all these years later. And if this masterpiece isn’t to your taste, we have plenty of easygoing entries coming up, like Super Mario Odyssey, which is one of the most accessible and fun Nintendo Switch games to delve into.

Reviewer: Brett Phipps
Full Review: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Review

Everyone’s favourite plumber is back, since we couldn’t possibly limit Mario to just one place on this list. This is possibly the best Mario has ever been, with our review claiming that Super Mario Odyssey features some of the most satisfying gameplay that we’ve seen from Nintendo’s mascot. 

Odyssey sees Mario team up with Cappy, a sentient hat that can take on any form he chooses, from frogs to dinosaurs to massive totems. He feels great to use, with the controls feeling tighter than ever, and more ways to manoeuvre thanks to Cappy’s abilities. 

You’re tasked with finding all the Power Moons in the various worlds, as well as rescuing Peach yet again. We really enjoyed venturing off the beaten path or attempting to reach the highest point on the map, as doing so often rewarded us with another Power Moon to encourage experimentation.

We reckon this is a great game to buy for children (or adults) of all ages, with an accessible difficulty, charming style and the same Mario we’ve known and loved for 41 years. Already played Super Mario Odyssey? There are still plenty of other platformers to get excited about, including Crash Bandicoot N-Sane Trilogy, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which you can read more about further down.

Reviewer: Brett Phipps
Full Review: Super Mario Odyssey Review

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the refresher that the franchise needed, with brand new gameplay mechanics that make capturing monsters more fun than ever before.

There are over 25 hours of the main campaign to get through, with dozens of sidequests after that, which means this is a great choice for anyone looking for their next big project. While this isn’t the most challenging game, it’s still incredibly charming and is a perfect Pokémon game to get into, whether you’ve played it before or not. 

We loved the satisfying gameplay loop that Arceus sets up, where you go to a new area, capture some monsters and then complete the main task. While less open-word than Breath of the Wild, there are still plenty of opportunities to wander around and explore all the nooks and crannies that Pokémon could be hiding in. 

We think that Arceus is one of the most innovative Pokémon titles to date, as it puts a whole new take on an old story and offers up brand new mechanics that will shock the most veteran players. But if you’re craving a more classic Pokemon game, then check out the likes of Pokemon Sword and Shield or Pokemon Brilliant Diamond / Dazzling Pearl instead.

Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full Review: Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is our absolute favourite Lego game, once again focusing on collectables while revisiting all of the most memorable moments in Star Wars history.

Compared to previous Lego games, we found the combat to be a lot more engaging and requires more than simply mashing buttons to take down the enemy. Our reviewer mentioned that it’s still very much accessible for younger players, but there are more options on how you can get through a level. 

We loved rummaging around the barren wastelands of Tatooine and the wealthy streets of Canto Bight, which are filled to the brim with secrets, collectables and Easter eggs. We wouldn’t class these as open-world locations, although the levels did remind us of Super Mario Odyssey, as you’re free to explore at your own pace.

The co-op aspect of this game is also wonderfully implemented, and we loved seeing characters that weren’t much use in previous titles get their time to shine. While Lego games may not appeal to everyone, any Star Wars fan will love the massive amounts of content here. And if you’re looking for additional Lego games on Nintendo Switch, check out Lego City: Undercover and Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full Review: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Review

If you’re looking for a massive action RPG to play on the Nintendo Switch, then Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is our top recommendation. This high fantasy world is breathtaking, with various environments and wonderfully detailed monsters that roam the planet.

The story follows six characters trapped in a perpetual war, featuring classic Japanese tropes such as talkative monsters and giant mecha combat suits. But despite the high fantasy backdrop and action-packed cutscenes, Xenoblade still provides an emotional story that’s both captivating and relatable.

Monolith Soft has been incredibly ambitious with the gameplay too, scaling up to 7-character parties for combat, and allowing you to swap between character classes at any point in the game. During the review, we did find the combat to become a repetitive without a deeper progression system, but it still kept us entertained throughout the 50-hour adventure.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 may not be for everyone, as its lengthy campaign may well put some people off, but it’s still a fantastic entry for the Nintendo Switch library. It will be a surprise if many games in 2022 will have a better story.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 review

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is one of the best games you can find on the Nintendo Switch. Our reviewer found this title to be thrilling, with the hack and slash combat allowing players to rack up rewarding combos in seconds. 

You have the choice of three narratives when it comes to the story, with players being able to join either the Scarlet Blaze, Golden Wildfire or Azure Gleam factions. Our exploration of the Scarlet Blaze story took our reviewer around 20 hours to complete, but there are easily hundreds of hours of content to get through, which is ideal for anyone looking for their next big project. 

The quirky art style is also wonderful to look at, with each character having their own distinct aesthetic that matches their personality. Speaking of the characters, each one is engaging and well-written, with the game encouraging players to get to know their team through bonding exercises and gift-giving.

Regardless of whether or not you’ve played a Fire Emblem game before, Three Hopes is such an easy recommendation. The fast-paced combat and engrossing story will keep you playing for hours, with the Switch’s portability making this an ideal title for anyone who’s usually on the go.

Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full Review: Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

Potentially one of the best Switch games on this list to be enjoyed by children, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is brimming with charm. While some of the levels may be a little too easy for some – and for those people, we will point back to Breath of the Wild – we still loved the goofy animations and endearing mechanics. 

The linear level design is similar to Super Mario 3D Land, but with oodles of unique features to keep this game feeling unique. We rode rollercoasters and fled from boulders, meeting an abundance of adorable enemies along the way. The platforming here is not tight or intricate, as Kirby can happily inflate himself and float away if you mistime a jump, but we still loved gobbling up enemies and stealing their abilities.

In a similar vein to The Skywalker Saga, there is a huge emphasis on seeking out collectables here. This gave the game more depth and meant we could keep exploring every level to find all the kidnapped Waddle Dee characters that needed to be saved. 

We think this is a perfect entry point for younger gamers who just want to experience a colourful adventure. Other easy 3D platformer games include SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated and Spyro Reignited Trilogy.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Kirby and the Forgotten Land