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Over the six-plus year lifespan of the Nintendo Switch (so far), almost every major Nintendo franchise has had a truly stellar outing on the hybrid home console and portable device. The vast and impressive library of exclusives has been complemented by a staggering number of third-party hits, which wasn’t the case together the last few Nintendo console generations. Alongside such a strong catalog of games, narrowing down the standouts to the very best isn’t super easy, but that’s what we’ve attempted with our list of the best Nintendo Switch games. These are our absolute highest recommendations.
Our list includes a smattering of games you can only play on Nintendo Switch as well as some third-party titles that feel right at home on the console. In the last year alone, we’ve added standout games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime Remastered, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder to the list.
If your favorite Switch game didn’t make the cut, just know that this list could easily include 50-plus games. We aimed to include a mix of genres, franchises, and both AAA and indie games. Essentially, this list can be used as a guide for a superb place to start if you just joined the Nintendo Switch club. Though some franchises nabbed multiple spots on this list (Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon), we tried to limit repetition where possible.
Our picks are organized in alphabetical order, and at the bottom of this list, you’ll find a note detailing which games were added and removed with our latest update.
Editor’s Note: Article updated on April 4, 2024.
Original case and manuals in new condition.