The Nintendo Switch is now more than 5 years old. Since its release, Nintendo has sold more than 100 million units, making it the 5th best-selling console of all time. While only about 13 games were available at launch, the console is now home to more than 5,000 different titles. The best Nintendo Switch games have won several awards and sold massive copies too.
Some of the games on the console are flops, of course. You won’t always see perfect games from Nintendo or any other game developer. However, there are countless other fantastic games on the Switch. We decided to discuss a few of the best Nintendo Switch games of all time below, be sure to let us know what you think is the best Switch game ever!
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
[Image via The Pokémon Company]
This may not sound too appealing to veterans of the Pokémon series. If you’re drawn to these games purely for the battles, then PLA might not be the game for you. However, if you like open-world RPGs of any sort, you should definitely give this one a try.
The side quests and Pokédex page completion will keep any player engaged long after the main story is completed.
Pokémon Sword & Shield left many fans disappointed in what a Pokémon game could be on the Switch. After all, Nintendo didn’t even include the National Pokédex in the game! Maybe they’ll bring it back for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. In the meantime, Pokémon Legends: Arceus will tide us over.
We’re hoping that Nintendo continues the Legends series in the future! For this is one of the best Nintendo Switch games of all time.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
[Image via Nintendo]
It was the Switch’s flagship title: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
It’s now more than 5 years after this game’s release, and it is still one of the best Nintendo Switch games to ever exist. The game feels like everything a Zelda game should be. While there’s still a story and quests to complete (including defeating Ganon), the quests are non-linear.
Players can complete the game at their own pace. More importantly, the players are encouraged to explore the world of Hyrule in order to beat the game. BOTW feels like the original The Legend of Zelda, while still giving players a story that they can be invested in.
In June of 2019, Nintendo announced that they’re working on a sequel to BOTW (tentatively called Breath of the Wild 2 by fans). After a few delays, the game is slated to release sometime in 2023. It’s hard to imagine that this sequel will hold as much staying power as the original.
Then again, Zelda sequels seem to do pretty well with fans. Let’s not forget that Majora’s Mask and A Link Between Worlds are sequels.
Splatoon 2
[Image via Nintendo]
From the game mechanics to even how they look, these shooters are all fairly predictable. However, Splatoon 2 is a rare exception to this rule.
Nintendo released the original Splatoon in May of 2015, and the game was an instant hit. Unfortunately, they released it for the Wii U, one of Nintendo’s poorest selling consoles to date. Luckily, fans kept their eyes on the series, and Nintendo didn’t let the franchise die. Now, Splatoon 2 is one of the highest-selling games on the console.
This game takes the appeal of team-based shooters and mixes it with turf-war mechanics. Players rack up points by painting more surfaces than the other team, not by shooting the other guys. With an abundance of colors, different weapons for varying playstyles, and a light-hearted cartoony feel, no one can doubt why the series is such a success.
Hopefully, when Splatoon 3 releases later this year (Sept. 2022), fans will not be left disappointed. From the trailers that Nintendo has presented already, it’s looking like we won’t be.
Super Mario Odyssey
Image via Nintendo
Way back in 1996, Nintendo released one of its most celebrated games ever: Super Mario 64. The game instantly set the standard for what a 3D platformer should be. More than 25 years later, fans still play the game. Indeed, Nintendo themselves remastered and re-released the game for the switch in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars pack.
However, Super Mario Odyssey takes what made Mario 64 so great, and then vastly improved it.
Super Mario Odyssey boasts some of the tightest controls in a 3D platformer ever. With the addition of Cappy to the game, platforming becomes almost an art form. Players can toss Cappy to act as a temporary bounce pad. When chained together, players can platform through the air almost infinitely.
The game itself is beautiful.
From beaches to forests to volcanos to even the moon, Nintendo proves once again their mastery in game design. What keeps players coming back is the post-game material. While the game can be completed fairly quickly, there are 880 moons to collect in the game! That keeps any player busy for a long time.
At the time of writing, Nintendo has not announced any new 3D Mario game. Perhaps this is for the best. It will be hard for them to create a 3D platformer that’s better than Super Mario Odyssey. Maybe they should just wait for the next console first. Either way, Super Mario Odyssey is certainly one of the best Nintendo Switch games ever made.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Image via Nintendo
The Super Smash Bros. series almost didn’t exist. Originally, the game was going to be a fighting game called Dragon King. It wasn’t going to feature any recognizable Nintendo characters either. However, when developers decided to add in the likes of Mario, Samus, and Fox, they ended up creating one of the best Nintendo Switch games of all time.
It would actually not be a stretch to say they created one of the best Nintendo games ever, regardless of the console!
The original Super Smash Bros on the Nintendo 64 featured 12 iconic Nintendo characters, including Captain Falcon, Link, and Kirby. After five games and almost 30 years, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Switch has 89 playable characters from 39 different franchises. It’s one of the greatest crossovers ever made!
Not to mention, the game is a blast to play. The original Super Smash Bros. revolutionized what a fighting game could be. The sequel Super Smash Bros. Melee is still played in tournaments around the world. The game appeals to hardcore gamers as well as newcomers to the series.
This game can be played competitively, or simply as a party game. It boasts local 8-player modes as well as online matches too. There are few games as appealing and overarching as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, at least when it comes to the Switch. It’s hard to think of a finer game on this console, in our book.
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