Released in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch has seen tremendous success, with many people putting its popularity down to the large of number of classic and exclusive games available for it. As a result, we’ve put together a list of the best Nintendo Switch Games to clue you into the ones that you should be putting at the top of your purchase priority list.
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With the likes of Mario and Legend of Zelda making a reappearance, there’s no doubt that Nintendo have cashed in on the timelessness of their most popular heros. But they’ve also placed some new concepts on the table, too, with games like SnipperClips and an updated version of the Wii U’s Splatoon coming into play.
With an incredible variety of game play modes, the Switch is essentially several consoles in one, enabling gamers to experience gaming in multiple different ways. Different modes suit different games better. For example, Legend of Zelda is by far Nintendo’s most successful series, and to truly celebrate Breath of the Wild in all its HD graphics glory, placing the console in its docking station so it hooks up to the TV is certainly the way to go.
Multiplayer games can be played using a range of set ups, whether it’s playing from the television, switching the console to portable mode or propping up the screen and making the most out of both of the Joy-Con controllers. Mario Kart is a classic example of a Nintendo game that absolutely lends itself to a multiplayer format, and with several ways to play it, there’s a Switch set-up for all circumstances.
Whether you’re new to the Nintendo Switch or you’re looking for inspiration for your next game purchase, we’ve compiled a list of the best Nintendo Switch Games for an awesome gaming session, guaranteed.
It goes without saying that The Legend of Zelda is Nintendo’s most successful franchise. Understandably, they haven’t strayed too far from the format that works with Breath of the Wild, but they still give gamers new ideas and new contexts for a fresh gaming experience. There’s a loose narrative throughout the game, but you pretty much have the freedom to explore the map as you will. Complete quests and puzzles as you come across shrines to upgrade skill and armour, and win battles as you go. As mentioned in the intro, this game is best played in the docking station, so you can appreciate the beauty of the landscapes that Nintendo have created on your HD TV.
If you prefer a more structured game, Super Mario Odyssey could be the one. It’s sandbox style, which means there’s lots of worlds, but they’re contained, and you’re guided through each level as you complete stages of the narrative. The idea of the game is to collect moons to level up, but there’s obstacles to overcome along the way. The twist is Mario can throw his cap at various characters, which he then embodies to help him overcome certain obstacles. Super Mario Odyssey can be played in multiple ways, whether it’s on the TV via the dock, in portable mode, two players using both Joy-Con controllers or linking up on the network with separate devices.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the perfect party game. Aside from the battle mode and the quality of the graphics, not much has changed from the Wii U version of the game. The tracks are familiar, however Battle Mode features new courses such as Urchin Underpass and Battle Stadium. Nintendo have introduced some characters from Splatoon, and there’s a couple of new power ups that may or may not add something to the game. Aside from that, it’s the same addictive fun, and with the option for you and 7 mates to hook up in local wireless multiplayer match, there are endless ways in which the group of you can enjoy this classic game.
If you’re looking for a game to really sink your teeth into, Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim offers hours and hours of gameplay. There’s a narrative, but it’s open world, so there’s loads of quests and battles that you can carry out on the side. The winning feature is use of the Joy-Con controllers’ motion control, which actually sees your character aim a bow, punch a dragon or pick a lock. There’s so much map to explore and ways to upgrade and customise your character. Nintendo have even amalgamated Skyrim with bits of the Legend of Zelda franchise for a full mystical adventure extravaganza.
Splatoon is crazy and fun, with 3 multiplayer modes holding up the fort when it comes to game content… so long as your friends have a Switch too. The Turf War is one of the major concepts, where teams of four face a battle to cover as much of the area as possible with their coloured ink. Salmon Run is the fast-paced part of the game, where you join your team members in fending off Salmonids, while collecting their Golden Eggs for powering up. There’s also a Campaign Mode if you can’t wait to get back on the game when your friends have gone offline. Best of all, for a fully immersive experience, the Joy-Con controllers allow you to aim your ink using motion control.
According to players, this game delivers charming graphics and sound effects, and is a great one to play while having some downtime with your friends. The aim is to work together to solve the puzzles, which often involves thinking outside of the box as you snip your characters and transform them into objects to help you pass the level. If you’re looking for more fast-paced gameplay, there’s also a Blitz Mode, where the game concept extends to sports-like competitions.The only downside is the single-player mode doesn’t have any particularly original features, leaving us to think that co-operative mode is certainly the way to go.
Combining the Mario franchise with Rabbids would always be a recipe for a comical concept, and according to word on the street, that’s certainly the case. With 4 worlds to combat, side quests and battles, there’s a lot of game to play, however the consensus seems to be that it’s more suited to short stints of play, rather than hours and hours. Players report that you can learn the controls of the game within the first couple of minutes of play, and unlike many other strategy games, play is fast-paced and simple, yet engaging, making it a great one for kids and adults alike.
If you love a platformer, you can’t go wrong with Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition, which, according to some, is the best platformer outside of Super Mario Bros.. For a 2D game, the graphics are meant to be incredible and there’s apparently heaps of content to get through, with puzzle-solving and shooting heading up the main types of gameplay. The game makes use out of the Switch’s touchscreen, and the developers have added an online tournament mode to the Kungfoot mini-game to make more use out of the Switch’s features.
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