The 18 Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2025

March 2017 saw the launch of Nintendo’s most innovative game console: the Nintendo Switch. You could play this console on the big screen of your TV, but also as a handheld — something many gamers had long been longing for. 

These same beloved features have also made their return with 2025’s release of the Switch 2. Many popular games have been released over the years, but some of the best Switch games were absolute winners from the get-go.

The Nintendo Switch offers flexibility, allowing you to game the way you want with titles you love. In this unranked list, explore 18 of the best Switch games and dive into your next video game adventure, whether you choose the original handheld that started it all or try out your favorite titles on the Switch 2.

The Best Switch Games at a Glance

There are hundreds of options to choose from when it comes to the best Switch games. Along with learning if the game suits your preferred play style, reading reviews can help you decide if a title is right for you.

Games	Best for	Metacritic Rating
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild	Fans of the Legend of Zelda series, new and veteran Switch players looking for hours of gameplay and open-world exploration	97/100
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom	Fans of The Legend of Zelda series, players seeking open-world gameplay with the opportunity to explore main and side quests	96/100
Super Mario Odyssey	Players looking for simple but immersive gameplay with post-game options set in the Mario universe	97/100
Tetris Effect: Connected	Arcade game fans looking to play Tetris alone or with friends	88/100
Metroid Prime Remastered	Fans of the original Metroid Prime looking for a modern take on the game with updated visuals and mechanics	94/100
Hades	Players looking for a hack-and-slash roguelike with dungeon-crawler aspects and cross-platform support	93/100
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition	Players looking for a rich customizable RPG experience to play alone or cooperatively with up to three other friends	92/100
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	Nintendo fans looking for a game with high replayability, PvP or PvAI combat, and different game modes	93/100
Super Mario Bros. Wonder	Fans of the Super Mario Bros. series looking for a modern take on the game with additional playable characters, upgrades, and events	92/100
Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Expansion Pass Wave 4 – Future Redeemed	Fans of the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 base game and previous waves looking to continue unraveling the story	92/100
Celeste	Fans of story games looking for a rich plot paired with platform gameplay	92/100
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	Fans of the Mario Kart series looking for a game that combines the maps and characters from previous titles with car customization and various difficulties	92/100
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition	Fans of the Dragon Quest series, players looking for a game that combines the nostalgic features of earlier Dragon Quest installments with a new storyline and gameplay	91/100
Stardew Valley	Players looking for a slice-of-life farming game with combat and social simulator aspects	89/100
Donkey Kong Bananza	Players looking for a 3D platformer where they can destroy the surrounding environment to uncover hidden secrets	91/100
Animal Crossing: New Horizons	City-builder fans looking for a relaxing game that pairs their favorite mechanics with social and life simulator elements	90/100
Splatoon 3	Gamers looking for a bright shooter title with interesting but easy-to-learn mechanics	83/100
Mario Kart World	Players looking for a fan-favorite racing title that offers other ways to play, too, including free roam and PvP modes	86/100

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Considered one of the best games on Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offers freedom and flexibility. Dive into an open world, learning as you go through the tutorials and trial and error. This game is perfect for new and veteran players alike — the challenge it offers through gameplay, quests, bosses, and puzzles creates a memorable experience that can span hours of game time. 

Breath of the Wild is one of the top Switch games because there are different ways to play. From the main storyline and side quests to its crafting and cooking mechanisms to its large open world, this title encourages players to take their time and explore Hyrule while building their in-game skills and unraveling the lore surrounding the return of Ganon.

With its release on the Switch 2,  Breath of the Wild sees major quality of life (QoL) and graphics updates. Now, you can enjoy reduced loading times, improved frame rate, and better resolution while indulging in the same storyline you’ve come to love.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Released over five years after its predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom blends many of the characteristics that cemented Breath of the Wild as one of the top Switch games with new mechanics. It offers a combination of open-world exploration, combat, and challenging puzzles and achievements that can result in hundreds of hours of gameplay. Overall, Tears of the Kingdom is one of the best new games for Switch.

This title also provides new areas of Hyrule to explore: the sky, which is littered with a variety of floating islands, and an expansive underground area known as the Depths. Players can complete the main storyline and dozens of side quests, using in-game achievements to upgrade Link’s health and stamina for easier combat.

Like Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom gained a breath of life with the release of the Switch 2. Explore Hyrule and the Depths with improved graphics, as well as smoother gameplay thanks to improved resolution and frame rate.

3. Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey combines the familiar gameplay of the Super Mario franchise with several modern mechanisms, creating an innovative platform game considered one of the top Nintendo Switch games.

Much of the gameplay in Super Mario Odyssey focuses on 3D platform gaming, with players utilizing Mario’s newest sidekick, Cappy, to complete levels. You can team up with friends thanks to Super Mario Odyssey’s multiplayer support, and beating the game offers additional hours of playtime through its post-game levels and minigames.

4. Tetris Effect: Connected

Like Super Mario Odyssey, Tetris Effect: Connected modernizes classic gaming and brings a fan-favorite arcade game to Switch. This title includes many of the same mechanics as the original Tetris game. However, it also offers a variety of modern features, including updated visuals, immersive soundtracks, and VR support. 

What truly sets Tetris Effect: Connected apart, however, is its multiplayer support. You can tackle these nostalgic puzzles alongside friends or sit back and watch using spectator mode.

5. Metroid Prime Remastered

Metroid Prime Remastered brings 2002’s Metroid Prime to Switch with updated visuals and mechanics. As a remaster, this title follows much of the main storyline as the original Metroid Prime, with players controlling Samus in a mixture of first- and third-person gameplay.

The beginning sequences of Metroid Prime see Samus’ suit malfunctioning, causing her to lose several abilities that must be recovered throughout the game. As a result, the focus of this game is to play through the storyline, unlocking upgrades for Samus’ weapons and armor that allow her to take on new environments and foes.

Metroid Prime Remastered is the perfect game for those looking for an updated version of a classic Metroid title offering linear but challenging gameplay. Its storyline, characters, and visuals have established it as one of the best shooter games for Switch.

6. Hades

In Hades, a 2020 roguelike dungeon crawler, failure is the way to victory. Using hack-and-slash combat that combines physical weapons with magical abilities, players must control Zagreus, a son of Hades, and work their way through dungeons riddled with enemies as they attempt to escape the Underworld. 

Be aware that you probably won’t succeed during your first attempt. Instead, Hades focuses on failing and trying again, with each death offering you the ability to use the loot you’ve claimed in the dungeons to upgrade Zagreus and his weapons and abilities. With its use of multiple playthroughs, Hades creates a spellbinding story to be uncovered, making it one of the best games on Switch.

7. Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition

Play alone or team up with friends in the RPG adventure that is Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition. Players can choose from several premade characters or build their own character from the ground up, choosing between races and character stats to best fit their desired style of gameplay. 

Like many other RPG games popular on Switch, Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition utilizes turn-based combat. However, the focus of the game extends much further than that, with players interacting with NPCs, making game-altering decisions, and exploring the world around them. You can choose to play alone, recruiting other NPCs to join you on your quests, or with up to three friends in a cooperative party.

8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The fifth installment in the Super Smash Bros. series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate brings the fan-favorite crossover fighting game to Nintendo Switch. Players choose from 89 playable characters, including Pikachu, Mario, Pac-Man, and Zelda.

Ultimate follows the gameplay of previous games, with players combatting either AI opponents or friends in a limited arena. Players lose if they are knocked out of the arena. As they take more damage, indicated by the percentages at the bottom of the screen, players’ knockback increases, making it easier to knock them out of the arena. Alongside multiplayer combat, there is also a single-player campaign mode.

9. Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a side-scrolling platform game that offers single- and multiplayer gameplay. Alongside the traditional picks of Mario and Luigi, players can control up to 10 other players, including Toads, Yoshis, and Princess Peach.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder introduces the Wonder mechanic, an innovative addition to the Super Mario franchise. Wonder Flowers appear occasionally throughout your adventure, creating chaos such as pipes coming to life or changes to the playable character. You can end these effects in two ways: leaving the affected area or collecting a Wonder Seed.

10. Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Expansion Pass Wave 4 – Future Redeemed

Future Redeemed is the fourth DLC for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and a direct prequel to the base game. Although much of the gameplay between Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and the Future Redeemed expansion is the same, the DLC does introduce some new features. This includes new power-ups as well as the ability for characters to team up, creating innovative gameplay that new and original players alike can easily grasp and master.

Unlike many of the other best Nintendo Switch games on this list, Future Redeemed is not a standalone game, available only through the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 expansion. While it can be played without first experiencing the other games, knowing the lore and understanding the characters can boost the immersion of this action RPG.

11. Celeste

Dive into an introspective game about doubt, self-forgiveness, and overcoming the hurdles of life with Celeste. This platform game follows Madeline, a young woman struggling with her mental health as she strives to climb Celeste Mountain.

Celeste is divided into several different chapters, each filled with challenges before ending with a boss. While gameplay can be difficult, this title includes several accessibility features and difficulty adjustments that give players more control over their playthrough. As of 2019, a free DLC titled Farewell provides an additional chapter for players to explore.

12. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a crossover kart-racing game where players choose from 42 characters, including different variants of Mario and his friends, like Metal Mario or Cat Peach. It’s the first Mario game for Switch, bundling together all of the DLCs from Mario Kart 8, available on the Wii U, in a single title. 

Along with choosing your characters, you can also customize your vehicles in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This includes the vehicle body, tires, and paragliders.Although kart racing shines as the main attraction of this title, there are other game modes to play as well, including Balloon Battle and Shine Thief.

13. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition

Visually, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition grants players the ability to choose between enhanced modern visuals or nostalgic 2D graphics as they wish outside of combat. This freedom pairs well with the other features in this adventure RPG, including its world exploration and free-form camera options.

Set in the world of Erdrea, Dragon Quest XI S is similar to previous installments. Gameplay focuses on completing the main storyline while exploring the world and fighting different monsters. Although not an open-world game, the plot and universe of this game are immersive, providing players with hours of gaming.

14. Stardew Valley

Take a break from real life and spend endless hours in Pelican Town, the main setting of Stardew Valley. One of the best Nintendo Switch games, this slice-of-life farming game combines typical farming responsibilities with exploration, combat, and social simulation.

With no set timeline or quests to complete, spend your days how you wish in Stardew Valley, whether that’s tending to your farm, exploring the monster-filled mines, or romancing the eligible bachelor or bachelorette of your choice. Players can customize their characters and farms to their liking, adding RPG elements to this farming simulator. From a small shack to a fruitful farm overflowing with structures, gardens, and animals, this customization also makes Stardew Valley one of the best building games.

15. Donkey Kong Bananza

Many players may remember Donkey Kong from the early days of Nintendo games, and Donkey Kong Bananza sees his return on the Switch 2. However, this title isn’t your traditional 3D platformer. Instead, similar to other new Switch 2 titles, this game encourages you to forge your own path and explore the unknown.

The world inside Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t static. Instead, thanks to its destructible environment, you can interact with and destroy the areas around you to uncover new paths and other secrets. This adds an edge of strategy to the traditional platform mechanics, requiring you to think outside the box to find success.

16. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

First released in 2020 for the Switch, New Horizons became a popular pastime for new and old Animal Crossing fans. Overall, ACNH is one of the best cozy games, but it’s far from boring. With real-time life simulation, you can interact with your villagers and build relationships with the adorable anthropomorphic characters. 

You can also talk to Tom Nook about expansions for your home and others, plus directly impact the landscape through terraforming. You can even plant flowers and trees for a scenic island that’s uniquely you.

17. Splatoon  3

Splatoon 3 brings bright colors and easy-to-learn but difficult-to-master mechanics to the world of shooter games. At first glance, this game is vibrant, with a unique concept of octopus vs squid. 

However, alongside its interesting theme, Splatoon 3 also offers fast-paced shooter gameplay that relies not just on your ability to manage a diverse range of weapons with limited ammo but also on efficiently swapping between the normal humanoid form and the faster “swim form.” 
With its immersive, competitive gameplay, Splatoon 3 is one of the best games to play online with friends.

18. Mario Kart World

Although you can still enjoy Mario Kart 8, its sequel, Mario Kart World, brings a new twist to the genre. Much of the gameplay in Mario Kart World is similar to previous titles, and you can even enjoy popular game modes from the past, like Coin Runners. However, it also has new additions, namely its off-road mechanics and open world.

Gameplay isn’t confined to the race track in Mario Kart World. Instead, you can go off-road and explore, with vast landscapes and even challenges to uncover.

Nintendo Switch Games Coming Soon

The Switch 2 offers reverse compatibility, which means that you can play most of your favorite Switch 1 titles on your new console. However, if you’re bored of playing the same games, you’ll be glad to know that there are a variety of new titles to look forward to — for both the Switch and Switch 2.  

• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment: Hyrule Warriors is a crossover hack-and-slash set during the same time as Tears of the Kingdom. Although it looks like this title will only be available for Switch 2, you can expect it in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Kirby AirRiders: Another Switch 2-only title, Kirby AirRiders brings the gameplay from its first 2003 release to modern consoles. While not much other information is available, it’s expected to release in 2025.
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: The next installment in the Metroid franchise will be available for both Switch consoles, and it’s set to release in 2025. Beyond introduces new psychic powers, creating Metroid gameplay unique from its previous titles. 
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A: The long-anticipated return to the Kalos region is set for release in October 2025 for both Switch Consoles. Similar to the previous Pokémon Legends spin-off, Arceus, this title revisits a familiar region with new content, mechanics, characters, and more.

How To Choose the Best Nintendo Switch Games

There are hundreds of titles available for the Nintendo Switch, each offering a different genre and playstyle. Even games in similar genres can be vastly different, making it difficult to choose the right game for you.

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind to help narrow down your picks:

• Consider the genre: Although two RPG games may be different, they often share similar features that are standard in the genre. Consider which genres you like — and those you don’t —when choosing a Switch game. 
• Think about player support: Playing a game with friends can be fun, but there may be times you want to play alone. When picking a Switch game, research the player options. Many of the best single-player games also offer multiplayer options, and vice versa.
• Consider time commitment: Linear games like Metroid Prime Remastered may have a smaller time commitment than games like Stardew Valley, which have endless storylines and adventures to unfold.

Take the Classics on the Go

From classic remakes like Super Mario Bros. and Tetris to new titles first released with the console, Nintendo Switch places hours of immersive gaming in the palm of your hand — or on your TV. Although there are thousands of titles available, the best Switch games match your gaming preferences while offering high-quality storylines, appealing aesthetics, and irresistible gameplay. 

If you’re wondering what game to play next, consider beginning your next virtual adventure with one of these Switch titles. Or, if you’re looking for a different way to play, there are hundreds of popular games to explore and start playing today.

Best Switch Games FAQ

From fighting against your friends with your favorite Nintendo character to casual retro-styling gaming, there is no end to the types of Switch games available. However, even after picking your next virtual adventure, you might have other questions about the Switch console and the games available.

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked Switch questions:

What Is the Most Popular Switch Game Right Now?

With over 64 million copies sold, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most popular Switch game. However, other titles like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Super Mario Odyssey also fall into the top five list of best-selling Switch games.

Is Nintendo Discontinuing the Switch?

As of now, Nintendo is not discontinuing the Switch. Although a successor is in the works, Nintendo’s release schedule still shows Switch games being released well into 2025.

Does Nintendo Allow 18+ Games?

Yes, some Nintendo games may be intended for those over the age of 18. Nintendo uses three different rating systems, depending on the region: the Entertainment Games Rating Board (ESRB), the Pan European Game Information (PEGI), and the Info COMM Media Development Authority (IMDA).

Each of these systems has a different rating to indicate if a game is better suited for adults versus children, including:

Mature (M): ESRB rating for audiences 17 years old and up
Adults Only 18+: ESRB rating for audiences over the age of 18
18: PEGI rating for audiences over the age of 18
ADV: IMDA rating indicating the game is not suitable for those under 16
M18: IMDA rating for audiences over the age of 18

What Are the Best Family Games for the Switch?

Both Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Kart World are perfect titles for the entire family to enjoy, fun even for those who aren’t as video game-savvy. They offer split-screen capabilities as well as various game modes and difficulty adjustments.

What Switch Games Do Kids Love?

With its bright graphics and easy mechanics, Splatoon 3 stands out as a popular pick for children. However, this game does have a rating for 10 and up, which is important to keep in mind when choosing an appropriate title.