It's official:the Nintendo Switch is a smash hit. Most of the third-party publishers that ditched Nintendo's last console, the Wii U, have embraced the new hardware, and many of the new independent publishers have jumped on board as well.
So where do you start with the sheer number of games the Nintendo Switch has to offer?
In this article, we take a look at the best Nintendo Switch games you can buy today, including first-person blockbusters, third-party cross-platform, and indies. This list is presented in no particular order .
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the best local multiplayer games on the Switch Top 10 Local Multiplayer Games for the Nintendo Switch Top 10 Local Multiplayer Games for the Nintendo Switch In this article we take a look at the best local multiplayer Switch experiences. including split-screen co-op, competitive armchair multiplayer, and network fun with multiple Switch units. Read More And you can play it online too. It's the definitive edition of the Wii U's best racer (which you can be forgiven for missing the first time around) with all downloadable content on the cartridge.
Nintendo also addressed one of the game's biggest criticisms by completely reworking Battle Mode in a much-improved version with several different game types and an all-new Splatoon-themed arena. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a must-have title Is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the second game of change that you must have? Is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the second game of change that you must have? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch is a remaster of Wii U's Mario Kart 8. But is it worth buying if you've played the original game? Read More
Launch titles are rarely this good, nor are they a must-buy for this long, but Breath of the Wild still lives up to the hype. Breaking with convention, this is the first Zelda game to open up the entire world to the player from the very beginning.
Not only is it a technical masterpiece thanks to its gorgeous art style, but it also redefines many aspects of open world adventure. You can really go anywhere, climb any ledge, and as you can see in our Breath of the Wild beginner's guide The Spoiler-Free Beginner's Guide to Zelda:Breath of the Wild The Spoiler-Free Beginner's Guide to Zelda :Breath of the wild The Legend of Zelda:Breath of the Wild is here, and it's quite an adventure. Here are some beginner tips to keep in mind when you start exploring. Read More
Super Mario Odyssey is one of the best Mario games ever made. It's also something of a sequel to Mario 64, with the same open-ended level design that focuses on collection rather than completion. Most of the action surrounds the new character Cappy and the hat-throwing gameplay mechanic that he unlocks.
There's a real emphasis on exploration, with hours of content to work through and more to unlock once you're done. This takes the heat out of having to find everything on your first run, because you'll definitely want to go back and explore more once the credits have rolled. Don't miss it.
Golf Story is what happens when you fuse top-down RPG elements with the mechanics of a golf game. It's a Switch exclusive, and it's dirt cheap, so you have little reason not to jump in and enjoy it for yourself.
Not only do you play the odd round of golf, but you are tasked with using your golf skills to solve puzzles, complete side quests, and find secrets scattered around the world. It's all presented with a sassy sense of humor and a retro art style that suits both handheld and docking modes.
Steamworld Dig 2 is the sequel that improves on the first game in almost every aspect, especially the new art style that looks wonderful. It still has one of the best gameplay loops:descend into the mines, loot and explore, then return to the surface to deposit and upgrade.
It might not sound like much, but it's devilishly addictive and perfectly suited to handheld mode. My only complaint is that the game doesn't last longer, nor does it feature one more new game mode.
The cross-platform farming sim that found fame on PC is arguably the one most at home on the Switch. It almost looks like it was designed with handheld mode in mind, and the pixelated SNES-inspired art style pops up on the console's 720p screen.
Grab a friend and team up for cooperative fun via local wireless or online multiplayer, which was added as a free update in early 2018.
If you're looking to get into the fast-paced Metroidvania genre of progression-based platformers, look no further than Celeste. It's not quite as brutal as other titles in the genre, but it features all the optional teeth-gnashing difficulty settings veterans could want.
There's also a positive message about treating mental illness here, wrapped up in a nice pixel art style. Celeste nails the "easy to learn, hard to master" mark of a satisfying 2D adventure.
Hyrule Warriors isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for a comprehensive hack and slash title you can play on the go, this is your best bet. Fans of the Zelda series will appreciate the Hyrule theme, but in the end this is a Dynasty Warriors (or Musou ) game with a different coat of paint.
It's worth mentioning the insane volume of content included, including everything from the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS releases. Unlike the latter, Hyrule Warriors works seamlessly with the Switch, whether you're playing it on handheld or on the dock.
The turn-based draw that no one expected, and many came to love. Leverage the stupidity of the rabbits on the one hand, the turn-based strategy XCOM 3D on the one hand and the Mario license on the one hand and you will have a success.
There's a surprising amount of depth and variety to Kingdom Battle, and a new Donkey Kong DLC features an entirely new campaign if you want more. It's one of the cheapest Switch games you'll find on the shelves, and it's well worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre.
Fortnite is a free-to-play phenomenon that kids can't get enough of. Hence, our parenting guide to Fornite Your Kids Play Fortnite:What You Need To Know About It Your Kids Play Fortnite:What You Need To Know About It If your kids play video games, chances are they're playing Fortnite. So what do parents need to know about this game? Here are the answers to your questions. Read more . And this game fits perfectly on the Switch. It lacks the high resolution and 60 frames per second you'll find on the PS4 and other platforms, but Nintendo's portable box of cheats gets the job done.
It's also worth noting that, unlike Sony, Nintendo doesn't link your account to your console. So whether you play on PC, Xbox One or the smartphone version; You can log in on the Switch and keep your progress.
Darkest Dungeon is not your average turn-based dungeon crawler. It's a Roguelike Roguelikes:A unique and challenging twist on the RPG genre Roguelikes:A unique and challenging twist on the RPG genre right. The dungeon crawler procedurally generates in-game content, providing infinite replay value by ensuring a... Read More faulty ones they bring to the table..
Darkest Dungeon is a game that works best in handheld mode, thanks to the Switch's touch screen. In fact, the touchscreen helps so much that this is possibly the definitive version of Red Hook Studios' turn-based roguelike.
First released on the Wii U, Captain Toad Treasure Tracker began life as a game mode in Super Mario 3D World on Nintendo's previous console. It was such a success that Nintendo gave Captain Toad his own game, with 82 levels (including four platform-specific bonus levels).
Manipulate the camera and guide the toad through tricky mazes, along mine cart tracks and through dangerous boss battles. For the most part, though, it's a slow-paced puzzler, wrapped in a bland Toad aesthetic that's a must-buy for fans of puzzle boxes.
Be warned:if you enjoyed Treasure Tracker on the Wii U, there probably isn't much reason to double-dive.
With Octopath Traveler, Square Enix has delivered what so many JRPG fans have wanted for so long:a story-driven turn-based RPG that returns to the roots of the genre. Explore eight separate stories in any order you like, though don't expect too much interaction between them.
Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, Octopath Traveler takes advantage of many of the graphical advancements we've come to expect from modern titles. This Switch-exclusive JRPG looks stunning, with its signature art style and heavy use of shallow depth of field adding some much-needed polish to what can be a very flat-looking genre.
Hollow Knight began life as a Metroidvania game for PC and then Mac, before coming to the Switch in June 2018. It quickly became one of the best indie titles on the platform for its silky-smooth platforming action, detailed and unique atmosphere.
So far, Hollow Knight hasn't made its way to any other consoles, but since it's a perfect fit for handheld mode, the Switch feels like the perfect home for it. There's a steep learning curve, which is worth keeping in mind if you're new to the genre (you might want to start with Celeste).
Lumines was one of the best PSP games of all time. It comes from the creator of Dreamcast classics like Space Channel 5 and Rez and is perfect for the Switch.
This fiendish puzzle involves rotating 2×2 two-color blocks to create 2×2 single-color squares, which then disappear as the timeline passes over them. It sounds easy (and there's more to it), but a constantly changing aesthetic, score, and sound bank keep it fresh and challenging.
Splatoon 2 is probably the closest thing the Switch has to a triple-A first-person shooter. The big difference is an emphasis on dominating the environment with your brush, spray gun, or roller rather than taking out your opponents.
There's not a huge difference between the Wii U version of Splatoon and its Switch sequel, and for anyone who enjoyed the game the first time, that's a good thing.
The “rogue-lite” permadeath fusion genre with gradual progression has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. Dead Cells is a prime example of the genre done right, with procedurally generated levels, a rock-solid combat system, and blood-stained pixel art style to boot.
It's up to you to get out of your cell, venture into the city and collect permanent benefits that will help you in the next analysis. You'll die a lot, each time going back to the beginning, but before long you'll be dispatching those enemies with ease and worrying about the next obstacle.
Sonic Mania Plus is a long-overdue return to the series' roots, spanning 60 slicks per second in a 2D sprite-based adventure that brought the blue hedgehog to fame when the Genesis was king.
If you have fond memories of playing the original Sonic games, you'll love what Sega has done with Sonic Mania. Sonic Mania Plus is the official retail version title, also available digitally and as an upgrade for anyone who purchased Sonic Mania when it was first released in 2017.
Snipperclips launched alongside the Switch, and quickly became one of the must-launch Switch titles. Which Nintendo Switch Launch Games Should You Buy? Which Nintendo Switch Launch Games Should You Buy? The Nintendo Switch is here! Let's take a look at all the launch games and see which ones are worth buying. Read more . It's a local multiplayer cooperative game that takes advantage of the fact that every Switch console sold comes with two separate controllers.
Work with (or hilariously against) a teammate to solve puzzles by "slicing" your characters down to size, to complete brain-tickling puzzles. The Plus expansion adds more levels and sees the first physical release, all for an extra $15.
DOOM might seem like an odd choice, but it's amazing that DOOM even runs on the Nintendo Switch. The ability to take Id Software's hugely popular 2016 shooter on the go makes it a worthwhile purchase for cacodemon hunters everywhere.
The game lacks the silky-smooth framerate and high resolution of its PC and home console counterparts, but that doesn't really matter when you're ripping out the demon limb while sitting at a bus stop. Q>
These are the best Nintendo Switch games you can play today, but there are many more Nintendo Switch versions that we couldn't include in this list. If you're reading this because you've just stepped into Nintendo's hybrid console, make sure you familiarize yourself with all the tips and tricks for new Switch owners Essential tips and tricks for new Nintendo Switch owners Essential tips and tricks for new Switch owners Nintendo Switch Owners The Nintendo Switch doesn't have a ton of functionality at this point, but there are still a few important bits you might have missed. All Switch owners should check out these tips. Read more.
