The best Nintendo Switch games has brought many a delightful experience of transporting you to another world, whether you’re lounging on the couch or taking a road trip with friends to pass the time. In 2020, three years after it’s release, there are a plethora of games available for every type of person, from open world to strategy to puzzles, etc.
Nintendo’s game exclusives are hard to beat. Whether you have the original Nintendo Switch or the smaller, handheld only Switch Lite, you can only play Animal Crossing or Super Mario Odyssey on the Switch exclusively. Not only are there tons of exclusives, but there are many excellent third-party titles you can play on the console.
With so many options, it might seem a bit overwhelming to find a game thats right for you. I’ve put together this list that highlights the Switch experiences you shouldn’t miss so that you can spend more time playing the best Nintendo Switch games and less time shopping around.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Island creation is almost endless
- Great game graphics to date
- More user control
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the first new entry in the series for almost eight years and the first to be playable on the Nintendo Switch. New Horizons takes you to a deserted island where you are funded by Nook Inc. Your job is to build this island to be a top resort, attracting new islanders by creating an attractive tropical paradise.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is filled with tons of customizations and endless options to help you create your dream getaway. It’s a great game for those who want to kick back and take things at their own pace. It’s unique and fresh improvements to the game give players depth and keeps making you want to come back for more. With seasonal updates too, it always keeps you interested.
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
- Completely overhauled Battle Mode
- Tons of tracks, including DLC
- Local and Online multiplayer races
Instead of making a new Mario Kart for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo brought Mario Kart 8 to its new game console. Nintendo threw in both previously released DLC packs and made some modifications to its multiplayer options. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most robust game in the series so far, and it ranks as a must-have.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Massive, diverse open world
- Tons of puzzles
- Endless things to discover
Hyrule is in danger, and Link must save it. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a massive open world that’s filled with monsters, puzzles, and quests. Breath of the Wild’s scope is unlike any other game in the Zelda series. Breath of the Wild is a must buy Nintendo Switch game.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
- Great puzzles
- Gorgeous visuals
- Fun to play with friends
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a spooky journey led throughout a haunted hotel and is arguably the most visually stunning game on Nintendo Switch. Along with sucking up ghosts, you can slam them back to death and shoot plungers to pull apart the scenery. Your most powerful tool is the Gooigi, a slimy green doppelganger that expands powers and provides an easy option for younger co-op partners.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- Creative level design
- Funky Kong mode makes the game more forgiving for novice players
- Visually appealing
The Wii U had several excellent games that were underappreciated and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is one of them. The Nintendo Switch version of this game adds Funky Kong Mode, an easier style of gameplay, and a new playable character, Funky Kong, that makes the already difficult levels feel a little less gruesome. If you’re a fan of the classic series, this is a great addition to your Nintendo Switch collection.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- More characters than ever before
- The stages are more detailed and animated
- Tons of DLC extras
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate delivers more characters than ever before, 74 available to unlock. Super Smash Bros. is a classic battle arena game from Nintendo and fun for everyone. This is probably the best Smash Bros. title yet in terms of its glorious good looks, but also in the way it the stages are detailed and animated, fighters move much more naturally and with additional flare, and the KO animations are more satisfying than ever. Plus, there’s a detailed single-player story mode to jump into.
Pokemon Sword and Shield
- New Pokemon designs are solid
- Beautiful graphics – the best looking Pokemon game to date
- Dynamaxing is a great mechanic
Pokemon Sword and Shield is a memorable Pokemon adventure with a story that delivers twists and turns to keep you guessing, dipped in the myths and legends of the Pokemon version of the British Isles. There are so many great characters, and the attention to detail in the Galar region is visually stunning. It’s a great way to dive into the next generation of Pokemon games.
Super Mario Odyssey
- Vast array of kingdoms to explore and challenges to beat
- Capture mechanic adds exciting problem-solving elements
- Costumes and Snapshot mode are fun
If you’re only buying two games for the Nintendo Switch, it has to be Zelda and Super Mario Odyssey. The new title manages to successfully bring the series up to date by gifting Mario a ton of new moves. And by moving out of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario feels fresh and new while still keeping the classic Mario charm, there are still ground pounds and green pipes. This is probably one of the best Mario titles so far.
Minecraft
- Infinite world, infinitely replay-able
- Satisfyingly creative
- Numerous materials to gather and items to craft
Minecraft on Switch means ultra portable, buildable delight. You can play with a friend on the local network or play online and try out one of it’s mini-games (Battle, Tumble, or Glide). It’s a never-ending world of discovery and creativity. Whether you’re tenacious, easygoing, or just curious, think of Minecraft as a simple yet complex world of joy and happiness.
Octopath Traveler
- Fun and accessible combat system
- Variety of characters
- Diverse world
What Octopath Traveler really excels at is scale. Square Enix’s JRPG tells the story of eight heroes and all of their stories are given the same gravitas. It’s a wonderful collection of stories told in a world inspired by JRPGs of old, in terms of art style and its combat is top notch. If any of this intrigues you, then Octopath Traveler is a must have Nintendo Switch title.