The Nintendo Switch may slowly get phased out now with the release of its successor, but console owners can still enjoy numerous quality titles on this console. In hindsight, the sheer number of quality titles on the Switch has been immense.
FromZelda’s reimagining toMario’s evolution, this console was a much-needed success for a company that could’ve drowned following the Wii U’s failure. Instead, they innovated once again and let fans enjoy what is possibly one of the best video game consoles ever made, which is full of quality, must-play titles.
Breath of the Wildis one of the best video gamesever made and a title that any fan of open-world games should check out. Nintendo did what Nintendo does and innovated on the formula to create one of the best sandbox titles in the genre.
From the very moment players are dropped into Hyrule, they’ll marvel at the sheer number of immersive elements in the game that promote player agency and freedom. The challenge of the combat was also a breath of fresh air (no pun intended) and went against the notion of Nintendo making easy games, although crafty players could always break the system to make things trivial in the long run, anyway.
Super Mario Odysseyis one of the best platforming games ever made, pushing the 3DMarioformula to new heights. Movement feels incredible and rewarding as players nail tricky jumps and complete tough challenges.
Every Moon is satisfying to get in levels that are expansive and promote player freedom. Sure, there’s an intended route for players to take to get from point A to point B, but veering off the beaten path along the way will almost always lead to a valuable secret worth acquiring.
WithMario Kart Worldout, not many people may be playingMario Kart 8 Deluxenow. However, this should take nothing away from the excellence of this kart racing title that never gets old.
The formula was polished to a tee in this game, which is why its sequel needed to go open world to continue the trend of innovation that Nintendo prefers from its games. Controlling one’s favorite characters across several lovely tracks never gets old and is a huge part of what makesMario Kart 8 Deluxesuch a blast to play.
ASmashgame can make or break a console, and the Nintendo Switch was lucky that Sakurai decided to bring his A-game and let fans enjoy one of the biggest rosters in aSmashgame to date. This allowedSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateto become one of the best games in the series, which is almost on the level ofMelee.
The fighting mechanics are as tight and refined as ever, with players loving the act of experimenting with their favorite video game characters to see which moves are perfect for them. The quality of this fighting game makes it clear why theSmash Bros.series dominates e-sports, with players loving its tight mechanics and (mostly) fair gameplay.
Super Mario Bros. Wondercould’ve wallowed in obscurityas yet another 2.5D platformer in a time when players prefer full movement. Instead, what fans got was one of the most charming Mario games, where every animation has been made with great love and care.
The Wonder Seeds do a great job of breathing new life into every level and flipping the script. The creativity on display in every level is incredible and will keep fans pining for more as they try to find all Wonder Seeds in every level, which can be somewhat frustrating at times.
It was a twisted stroke of good luck that a much-anticipated title in a social simulation series arrived during a time when people were locked behind their doors and couldn’t go out. COVID protocols indirectly turnedAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsinto one of the most popular video games of the Switch, even if people felt that it wasn’t as great as other titles in the series.
Post-launch support may not have lived up to fan expectations, but this must-play Switch title is still something fans can sink a ton of hours into without getting bored. It’s a testament to how active theAnimal Crossingcommunity is thatNew Horizonsis still widely talked about, and fans can only wonder if anAnimal Crossinggame on the Switch 2 will make the same numbers as this smash hit.
After what felt like a long wait,Metroidfans were finally glad to get their hands on a new title starring everyone’s favorite bounty hunter. Hunting down aliens as Samus while trying to avoid the horrifying E.M.M.I. robots, who can instantly kill her once spotted, is quite riveting.
The small yet meaningful changes made to the gameplay ensure thatMetroid Dreadwill feel like a breath of fresh airfor fans of the series. Hopefully, this incredible Switch title will mark the start of a period where Samus gets as much love as Mario and Link on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Splatoon’s wild and wacky concept has been an instant hit with fans. So, it’s easy to see why this game has received two sequels, withthe third one continuing the series' trend of excellence.
Given how Nintendo usually sticks to pre-established IPs, it’s nice to see them givingSplatoonthe love it deserves. Just like other games in the series,Splatoon 3takes the competitiveness of third-person shooting gameplay and adds the novel concept of covering an arena with ink to make for fun multiplayer matches that never get too violent.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.
